The Scream by Edvard Munch

Edvard Munch (1863 – 1944) was a Norwegian symbolist painter. He is well known for his psychologically charged paintings that displayed a singular intense emotion.  He most recognized work, The Scream, actively describes a wavy dark figure with a pale face walking along a bridge that oversees a body of water.  The intense feeling of horror, or shock emitting from the figure is immediately evident.  The eyes and facial expression with hands clasping the sides of his face forms a strong symbol of real horror.  The expression of emotion is created by Munch thru the use of line. The wavy form of the main figure contrasted with the straight line of the bridge and distant figures behind him vividly infers something that is only sensed by the wavy figure.  The two figures on the walkway are drawn with straight lines, and are expressed as real elements.  In addition, notice how the walkway is drawn straight to lead the viewer into the painting.  The sky is expressed with wavy lines and unnatural color.  The audience gets the feeling the expressed emotion is infectious with way the wavy line moves into the sea near the figure when contrasted with the walkway and the two figures.