Edvard Munch Authored Mysterious Writing on ‘The Scream,’ New Analysis Reveals

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In 1904, a Danish critic took a close look at Edvard Munch’s The Scream and noticed something startling: faint handwriting in the far corner of the canvas that reads, “Can only have been painted by a madman.” Since then, the origins of the inscription baffled curators, some of whom assumed it was graffiti by a spectator or a jab at the famously anguished artist.

But a new analysis of the painting by Norway’s National Museum has revealed the words were added by Munch himself.

Edvard Munch Authored Mysterious Writing on ‘The Scream’ – ARTnews.com!
 

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In 1904, a Danish critic took a close look at Edvard Munch’s The Scream and noticed something startling: faint handwriting in the far corner of the canvas that reads, “Can only have been painted by a madman.” Since then, the origins of the inscription baffled curators, some of whom assumed it was graffiti by a spectator or a jab at the famously anguished artist.

But a new analysis of the painting by Norway’s National Museum has revealed the words were added by Munch himself.

Edvard Munch Authored Mysterious Writing on ‘The Scream’ – ARTnews.com!
You have to wonder what was going thru his mind when he wrote that. Maybe he was unsatisfied with the outcome or just under the influence of some substance.
 
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You have to wonder what was going thru his mind when he wrote that. Maybe he was unsatisfied with the outcome or just under the influence of some substance.

When he first showed the painting, the criticism turned from it to him. The critique was that he was affected, mentally, and the work was proof. He did have mental illness in his family, and eventually had a mental breakdown, himself. It's all pretty sad.
 
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2PhiloVoid

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When he first showed the painting, the criticism turned from it to him. The critique was that he was affected, mentally, and the work was proof. He did have mental illness in his family, and eventually had a mental breakdown, himself. It's all pretty sad.

For some reason, his story sounds all too familiar. Oh! I just remembered where I heard something like it before.

... Man, I'm so glad those days are behind me now! Geez! :rolleyes:
 
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2PhiloVoid

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When he first showed the painting, the criticism turned from it to him. The critique was that he was affected, mentally, and the work was proof. He did have mental illness in his family, and eventually had a mental breakdown, himself. It's all pretty sad.

But y'know, that painting is pretty iconic, if I do say so myself.
 
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But y'know, that painting is pretty iconic, if I do say so myself.

It is. I didn't know any of that until reading today, but I knew the painting.
 
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2PhiloVoid

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It is. I didn't know any of that until reading today, but I knew the painting.

What's interesting to me in Munch's story is that it has some parallels with that of Van Gogh who had his own mental health issues while working on his art.

So you know what? I think I understand now why some people have said to me, "You'd have to be nuts to want to be an artist!" And here I thought they were just expressing concern over my financial future. ^_^
 
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The first time I saw the painting it was pretty jarring. I thought it was well done but instability wouldn’t surprise me. I couldn’t conjure something like that on my own. I often felt he was depicting what he felt inside.

Yours in His Service,

~bella
 
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In 1904, a Danish critic took a close look at Edvard Munch’s The Scream and noticed something startling: faint handwriting in the far corner of the canvas that reads, “Can only have been painted by a madman.” Since then, the origins of the inscription baffled curators, some of whom assumed it was graffiti by a spectator or a jab at the famously anguished artist.

But a new analysis of the painting by Norway’s National Museum has revealed the words were added by Munch himself.

Edvard Munch Authored Mysterious Writing on ‘The Scream’ – ARTnews.com!

For those who have no idea what the heck they're talking about - this is "The Scream" by Edvard Munch
upload_2021-2-23_16-17-22.jpeg


OB
 
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2PhiloVoid

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For those who have no idea what the heck they're talking about - this is "The Scream" by Edvard Munch
View attachment 295304

OB

Yeah, thanks for adding that little detail. Not everyone is as lucky as I was to have taken an Art History class at the university. :cool:
 
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