|
The First Art Newspaper on the Net |
|
Established in 1996 |
|
Saturday, December 7, 2024 |
|
Art mystery solved: Who wrote on Edvard Munch's 'The Scream'? |
|
|
A photo provided by The National Museum of Norway, Edvard Munchs The Scream. Munchs painting from 1893, is one of the worlds most famous pieces, but for years art historians have mostly ignored a tiny inscription, written in pencil, at the upper left corner of its frame, reading: Could only have been painted by a madman. The National Museum of Norway via The New York Times.
by Nina Siegal
|
NEW YORK (NYT NEWS SERVICE).- Edvard Munchs The Scream, from 1893, is one of the worlds most famous paintings, but for years art historians have mostly ignored a tiny inscription, written in pencil, at the upper left corner of its frame, reading: Could only have been painted by a madman.
Who wrote the sentence there? Some thought a disgruntled viewer might have vandalized the work; others imagined it was the artist himself. But then why?
Curators at Norways National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, which owns the artwork, announced Monday in Oslo that they have determined that the text was indeed written by the artist.
Its been examined now very carefully, letter by letter, and word by word, and its identical in every way to Munchs handwriting, said Mai Britt Guleng, the museums curator of old masters and modern paintings, who was in charge of the research. So there is no more doubt.
Munch painted four versions of The Scream from 1893 to 1910. The first version, painted in tempera on panel with pastels, is the one owned by the National Museum, and is the only one that bears this inscription.
Researchers used infrared photography to make the text more legible. He didnt write it in big letters for everyone to see, she said. You really have to look hard to see it. Had it been an act of vandalism, it would have been larger.
Munch probably wrote the sentence on his painting in 1895, according to Guleng, after his exhibition of new work at the Blomqvist gallery in Oslo. During a debate about the exhibition at the University of Oslos Students Association one night, a medical student, Johan Scharffenberg, said the artwork gave him reason to question the artists mental state, calling Munch abnormal and a madman.
Guleng believes the inscription is written with irony and reflects both pain at being attacked and fear of being regarded as mentally ill. By writing this inscription in the clouds, he took possession, in a way, or he took control of how he was to be perceived and understood, she said.
© 2021 The New York Times Company
|
|
Today's News
February 23, 2021
Art mystery solved: Who wrote on Edvard Munch's 'The Scream'?
With something for everyone, Lark Mason Associates announces Single Owner Sale of Fine and Decorative Arts
Cézanne, Kandinsky, Klee & Richter among major gift to the Courtauld
Zoom-in for Asia Week New York's webinar "Transported by Art"
MFA Boston receives gift of 48 Henryk Ross photographs depicting life inside a World War II Jewish Ghetto
Marie-Antoinette's personal theatre gets a lockdown makeover
Cardi Gallery Milan opens an exhibition of works by Mimmo Paladino
Exhibition at Mishkan Museum of Art presents a series of actions performed by Gregory Abou
Raising money for a nonprofit? Try a personalized approach
A pandemic silver lining for a San Francisco institution
Lucky Luke, the comic book cowboy, discovers race, belatedly
Why an animated flying cat with a Pop-Tart body sold for almost $600,000
'Cross Pollination: Heade, Cole, Church, and Our Contemporary Moment' opens at Reynolda
Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza exhibits a series of 10 paintings by Alberto Reguera
Phillips appoints Beth Vilinsky as Senior International Design Specialist, SVP
Rare Posters Auction #83 presents 500 rare and iconic works
Exhibition features a broad selection of lens-based works by local and international artists
Exhibition presents Brendan Fernandes' Inaction, an exploration of collective action and solidarity
Photographs capturing important moments in space history to be offered at auction
Works by Stacey Steers on view at the George Eastman Museum
Everard Auction captures charm of Old Savannah with March fine & decorative art series
Greek government under fire after #MeToo shock arrest
Phillips to offer Jean Dunand's art deco masterpiece 'Les Palmiers' Smoking Room, 1930-1936
Bonhams Australia offers 168 works from The Lucio's Collection, Sydney
Quickly Find, Verify and Procure Wire-to-Board Terminal Block Replacement Parts
7 of the Most Popular Art Attractions in Las Vegas
How to find the right meat shop?
A Few Essential Reasons on How the Healthcare Industry is Changing
Top Benefits of Hiring a Moving Company For Your Business Move
Effects of High Humidity and Low Humidity in Museums and Art Gallery
Designing the Event of Wedding Party at Home
Garage Storage Space Must-Have Ideas For Productivity
8 Ways To Help Your Kids Keep Their Bedroom Organized
|
|
|
|
|
Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography, Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs, Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, . |
|
|
|
Royalville Communications, Inc produces:
|
|
|
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful
|
|