Disturbing yet emotively captivating is how I might describe the unique work of Norwegian artist Edvard Munch [pronounced Moonk]. I spend some time with Margie at The Art Institute of Chicago yesterday staring at it.
There is a good chance Munch’s name is unfamiliar but perhaps his famous painting titled The Scream is recognizable.
As you might surmise from the above painting, Munch’s work is ….well, different. A good deal of what Munch painted is often connected to his emotional pain and instability. His convulsed and agonizing art flowed from the misery and conflicts of his day, and, even more significantly perhaps, his own unhappy life. As one contemporary critic asked, “Is it art or is it inanity?” Not a bad question when it comes to the guy who gave his paintings titles like, Scream, Melancholy, Jealousy, Anxiety and who said things like, “From my rotting body, flowers shall grow and I am in them and that is eternity.”
Not all Munch’s work is weird. Actually, there are some exceptionally beautiful pieces in his collection. If you can get to see it – go.
Anxiety
Husband. Father. Senior Pastor of 
I’ve always liked this The Scream painting. You’ve got the guy in the front in agony and the couple on the bridge just strolling. It shows how life keeps on its day to day track no matter what kind of thing has you screaming. It’s always made me think that sometimes I’m like the couple oblivious to someone else’s agony and sometimes I’m the screamer freaking out when no one seems to notice. Cool thing about great art…you can pull what you want from it and interpret it through your own filter. Thanks for posting. I’ll have to check out the exhibit.
I’ve always been drawn to this painting – not sure what that says about me, I would like to think it speaks well of the painter and his ability to captivate an audience. Wish I were in Chicago to check out some of the rest of his work. Thanks for posting this. The Art Institute is definitely one of the things I miss about Chicago.
this is so awsome
I just love art like this =]]