Western Art Movements II Art Movements    

Lesson 5: Expressionism - The Scream (1893)

by Edvard Munch

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the artwork's movement.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

Expressionist art depicts an artist's subjective emotion or insight rather than objective reality. Norwegian artist Edvard Munch (pronounced Moonk) painted 'The Scream' based on the feelings he experienced while walking under clouds tinted blood red from the sunset. According to [2], he was inspired to create this artwork when he felt an 'infinite scream passing through nature.' Painted in 1893, this artwork preceded the height of the expressionist movement (1905-1920) by over a decade. Correspondingly, Edvard Munch is known as the 'Father of Expressionism.'

Vocabulary

Expressionism: A movement in the arts in which the artist did not depict objective reality, but rather a subjective expression of their inner experiences.
Subjective: Based upon a person's feelings or intuition, not upon observation or reasoning.
Objective: Based on observed facts and physical reality. Not influenced by the emotions or prejudices.
Reality: The state of being actual or real.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Expressionism
2. Peak Prevalence - 1905-1920

Movement Characteristics:

1. Conveys artist's subjective emotion and derived meaning rather than objective reality
2. Deforms elements of reality
3. Features vivid or unnatural colors
4. Expresses strong emotions including dismay and sadness
5. See 'Fighting Forms' by Franz Marc as an example of expressionist characteristics

Common Coinciding Genres:

1. Landscapes - 'Landscape with Cows and Camel' by August Macke

2. Portraits - 'Portrait of Gerda' by Ernst Kirchner

3. Cityscapes - 'Berlin Street Scene' by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• The 'infinite scream passing through nature'
• Bridge
• Passersby
• Horizon

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Map the Artwork

Find Norway, Edvard Munch's home country, on the map of Europe.

Activity 4: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork belongs to the expressionism art movement.
• Find expressionism on the timeline.
• During which approximate years did expressionism flourish?
• Which art movement followed expressionism?

Activity 5: Recreate/Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 8 of 'Fifth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

What is expressionism?

1 / 8

Answer 1

Expressionism seeks to represent what the artist feels rather than an objective representation of reality.

1 / 8

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 8

Answer 2

The setting is what the artist perceived during an outdoor walk at sunset.

2 / 8

Question 3

Into which genre does the artwork fall?

3 / 8

Answer 3

The artwork falls into the landscape genre.

3 / 8

Question 4

What happens in the artwork?

4 / 8

Answer 4

An 'infinite scream passes through nature.'

4 / 8

Question 5

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

5 / 8

Answer 5

This painting belongs to the expressionism art movement.

5 / 8

Question 6

How does this artwork serve as an example of expressionism?

6 / 8

Answer 6

The screaming figure represents what the artist sensed about nature rather than a real person.

6 / 8

Question 7

Which genres commonly coincide with expressionism?

7 / 8

Answer 7

Landscapes, portraits, and cityscapes often coincide with expressionism.

7 / 8

Question 8

During which century was this artwork created?

8 / 8

Answer 8

This artwork was created in the late 19th century (1893).

8 / 8

❮ ❯

1. What is expressionism? Expressionism seeks to represent what the artist feels rather than an objective representation of reality.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is what the artist perceived during an outdoor walk at sunset.
3. Into which genre does the artwork fall? The artwork falls into the landscape genre.
4. What happens in the artwork? An 'infinite scream passes through nature.'
5. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the expressionism art movement.
6. How does this artwork serve as an example of expressionism? The screaming figure represents what the artist sensed about nature rather than a real person.
7. Which genres commonly coincide with expressionism? Landscapes, portraits, and cityscapes often coincide with expressionism.
8. During which century was this artwork created? This artwork was created in the late 19th century (1893).

References

'Expressionism.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'The Scream.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.