Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Art - Essay Example The painting, hauntingly striking was initially christened Der Schrei der Natur in Norwegian, or the Scream of Nature. The current Skrik, when loosely translated bestows upon it the title it is known by. Munch in a journal entry recorded sensing â€Å"an infinite scream passing through nature†, while out walking one day accompanied by friends. There are various theories about the inspiration behind the creation. Munch painted what he felt, as described in the journal entry mentioned. Another theory places the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883 behind the visual inspiration for the blood-red background, disputed by scholars who claim him to be expressive rather than descriptive in his style. Others attribute the figure’s cadaverous appearance to be caused by Munch’s probable visits to the Museum of Natural History in Florence or during the Exposition Universale in Paris where such mummified exhibits were on display. Then again, there are many who compare the environment of The Scream to that experienced by sufferers of depersonalization disorder, arguing that Munch probably suffered from the ailment. It is quite a famous painting in my opinion, instantly recognizable like the Mona Lisa. It has featured in many movies, being the inspiration behind the mask in the Scream series of films; programs as well as in the print media. Caricaturized, humored or revered, The Scream is pretty much a public figure.