Munch - The Scream

[barry1010]

I am reading a novel and was jarred by a reference to this painting because the author refers to the subject as a woman.

I see a man in the painting.  What do you think?

[newmodarmy]

Have you got a link to the picture, barry?

[barry1010]

https://www.thehistoryofart.org/edvard-munch/scream/

[Ken4155]

Always thought it's a bloke. If it is indeed a woman, it's no wonder she's screaming - all her hair has fallen out!

[straydog]

I'd only ever seen a woman but you've made me look again at it and yes, I see a man now.   It's interesting reading what Munch's own thoughts were on it.  Intriguing.  Thanks Barry

[barry1010]

I don't think he is screaming - he is hearing a scream.

There is only one person I have seen covering their ears when they are screaming and that is my autistic nephew.  I don't know if that is typical behaviour in people with autism but I think most people cover their mouths when they are screaming through distress.

[Jonathan-Joe]

"If it is indeed a woman, it's no wonder she's screaming". The painting depicts the reaction to a scream heard from somewhere else.

[THECORBYLOON]

The translation of the German title is, The Scream of Nature.

[webbo3]

What ifs its neither Male or Female.

https://ibb.co/09rqG4V

[Old_Geezer]

It looks rather androgynous.

[Canary42]

I've always seen it as a female.

[barry1010]

According to this, the figure is Munch.

https://www.edvardmunch.org/the-scream.jsp

[Vagus]

I've always thought of it as male, didn't realise the face is a reaction to a scream, always thought it WAS the scream. You live and learn..

[ladybirder]

It's the artist representing his mental state.

[Togo]

The vivid red sky that Munch references in his recollections are widely, now, taken to be The Northern Lights(Aurora Borealis) that were not perhaps so well documented in the 1800s as they now are. In rural areas of Northern Europe they may have well been a tad "disturbing" at that time.   

[Vagus]

It could just have been a really vivid red sky, which isn't so unusual, or just a colour he wanted to use in this abstract painting. It would be very unusual, although not impossible, to see bright red northern lights I think.

[Togo]

https://th.bing.com/th?id=OIP.JH0nT7K_OnzPbHkLsPGfUwHaDZ&;w=349&h=160&c=8&rs=1&qlt=90&o=6&dpr=1.3&pid=3.1&rm=2