Edvard Munch (1863-1944) was an acclaimed Norwegian artist whose work was deeply influenced by his emotional state, shaped by a life overshadowed by illness and bereavement. Munch lived with a constant fear of inheriting insanity, as his sister had been institutionalized.

During his travels to Paris, Munch was influenced by the colors of Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Toulouse-Lautrec. Initially inspired by Impressionism, he later dismissed it as too superficial and struggled to find his unique style, which evolved over the years to include figures and landscapes.

Munch’s most well-known painting, *The Scream*, was created relatively early in his career. Between 1893 and 1910, he produced two painted versions and two pastel versions. According to Munch, the inspiration came while he was out walking at sunset and felt he 'heard the enormous, infinite scream of nature.' The painting's agonized face is widely identified with the angst of the modern person. *The Scream* has been stolen and recovered twice, once in 1994 and again in 2004.

When the Germans invaded Norway in 1940, Munch feared his paintings would be confiscated. Many of his works had previously been looted by the Nazis, though most were later recovered through private collectors. In a tragic twist, the Nazis orchestrated Munch’s funeral, leading many Norwegians to mistakenly believe he was a sympathizer.

In 1963, a Munch Museum was opened in Oslo. In 2021, it was moved to its current location in the Bjørvika area, now known simply as MUNCH. Situated on the waterfront near the Oslo Opera House, MUNCH houses approximately 28,000 pieces of art, making it one of the largest single-artist museums in the world. *The Scream* can be found on the 4th floor of this distinctive Oslo landmark.

Plan to spend a few hours visiting the museum, café, and gift shop. The museum is open seven days a week, with an entrance fee of approximately $17 for adults. We’d love to hear about your visit to MUNCH in the comments!