The Scream - Munch

This painting by Edvard Munch, created in 1893, is one of the most iconic images of modern art and represents the climax of the symbolist movement. This work captures an androgynous figure in the midst of an existential crisis, with a vibrant and distorted red sky reflecting a state of emotional anguish and despair. Edvard was inspired by a personal experience of extreme anxiety, which he depicted through wavy lines and intense colors to convey a sense of inner chaos. Expressionism, the movement associated with this work, emphasizes the representation of subjective emotions and the distortion of reality to convey profound feelings.

"The Scream," a masterpiece of symbolism, influenced many later artists, including German expressionists like Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and surrealists like Salvador Dalí. This work not only marked a milestone in Munch's career but also became a universal symbol of fear and human alienation.