Edvard Munch's 'Scream' to go under the hammer

A version of "The Scream", one of the world's most famous paintings and an iconic image of despair, will go on sale this May in New York, where it is expected to fetch at least $80 million, Sotheby's auctioneers said on Tuesday

Norwegian businessman Petter Olsen, whose father was a friend and patron of "Scream" painter Edvard Munch, owns the work, which will go on the block in New York on May 2nd, headlining the Impressionist and Modern Art sales.

Sotheby's described "The Scream" as "one of the most instantly recognizable images in both art history and popular culture, perhaps second only to the 'Mona Lisa.'"

There are four versions of the painting, which features a man screaming and clutching his head against a wavy, brightly-coloured landscape, but this is the only one in private hands.

http://www.thelocal.no/page/view/munch- ... the-hammer

The Scream was painted around the time, IIRC, of the Krakatoa eruption. The skies may have looked something like the depiction.

The Scream was painted around the time, IIRC, of the Krakatoa eruption. The skies may have looked something like the depiction.

I didn't realize there were four versions of the painting.

The Scream was painted around the time, IIRC, of the Krakatoa eruption. The skies may have looked something like the depiction.

I didn't realize there were four versions of the painting.

There was too much screaming necessary for only one painting.

Well, I do not have 80M [which should be obvious]. But even if I had that kind of money - and I mean, had it as my spare change, not as a noticeable part of my net worth - I would not be paying for "scream" even 80 cents.

"The Scream," is striking, but, frankly, I find his less abstract works a lot more interesting:
"Ashes"


and "The Day After"

for example, both of which were done around the same time as "The Scream."

"The Scream," is striking, but, frankly, I find his less abstract works a lot more interesting:
"Ashes"


and "The Day After"

for example, both of which were done around the same time as "The Scream."

Black letters on a white background ...
hmmm ...
yes, quite the opposite of abstract.

A lesser known version, expected to fetch a mere $ 40million.

"The Scream," is striking, but, frankly, I find his less abstract works a lot more interesting:
"Ashes"


and "The Day After"

for example, both of which were done around the same time as "The Scream."

Black letters on a white background ...
hmmm ...
yes, quite the opposite of abstract.

Derivative, too. Why, the second almost appears to be an exact copy of the first.

"The Scream," is striking, but, frankly, I find his less abstract works a lot more interesting:
"Ashes"


and "The Day After"

for example, both of which were done around the same time as "The Scream."

Black letters on a white background ...
hmmm ...
yes, quite the opposite of abstract.

Derivative, too. Why, the second almost appears to be an exact copy of the first.

While I prefer realism to abstract, both of these paintings leave too little room for interpretation. Art shouldn't be so starkly "spelled out," unless it's for kids.

"The Scream," is striking, but, frankly, I find his less abstract works a lot more interesting:
"Ashes"


and "The Day After"

for example, both of which were done around the same time as "The Scream."

Black letters on a white background ...
hmmm ...
yes, quite the opposite of abstract.

Derivative, too. Why, the second almost appears to be an exact copy of the first.

While I prefer realism to abstract, both of these paintings leave too little room for interpretation. Art shouldn't be so starkly "spelled out," unless it's for kids.

I wonder if CeltJew has any idea what we're going on about.

While I prefer realism to abstract, both of these paintings leave too little room for interpretation. Art shouldn't be so starkly "spelled out," unless it's for kids.

Yep. No text balloons like in comic strips. Indeed, such balloons [in the form of text scrolls] have their origins in quattrocento devotional painting, if not even earlier. And btw, why is it that at that time, whatever was depicted, there always had to be a saint in it, and frequently more than one. Angels, too. Must have been the union contract.

'The Scream' Fetches Record $119.9 Million in New York Auction


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 24806.html

'The Scream' Fetches Record $119.9 Million in New York Auction
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 24806.html

"There's a lot of money out there now, and it doesn't take many billionaires to push up a price," said Mr. Edlis, the Chicago collector, before the sale. "You can only buy so many yachts, and a painting is so much better to look at than a bankbook."

Actually, a bankbook is so much better to look at than something like "the scream". More peaceful, by far. Otoh, one could as well scream bloody hell after looking at one's bankbook - after "the scream" purchase.

one could as well scream bloody hell after looking at one's bankbook - after "the scream" purchase.

The 50% increase in value in the coming few years would, on resale, assuage the bloodiest scream.

one could as well scream bloody hell after looking at one's bankbook - after "the scream" purchase.

The 50% increase in value in the coming few years would, on resale, assuage the bloodiest scream.

Hmmm, I would rather buy something more prosaic. Like a basket of good stocks. But it does not matter, as I do not have $120M.