Edvard Munch, The Scream (1893)
In some of his paintings, Norwegian artist Edvard Munch captured a certain spirit of the turn of the century, depicting in soft pastel colors the newly leisured life of people strolling in the countryside. Yet modern life also had a tortured side, which Munch was equally capable of portraying. The Scream is taken as emblematic of the torments of modernity as the individual turns inward, beset by neuroses, self-destructive impulses, and even madness. It can also be suggested that the screamer, like Europe, travels the road to World War I. (The Scream, 1893 [oil, tempera & pastel on cardboard], Munch, Edvard [1863–1944] / Nasjonalgalleriet, Oslo, Norway / Bridgeman Images.)