Munch's text about The Scream

Before The Scream transformed into an image, it took shape as a text. In the winter of 1892, Edvard Munch recorded a poem in his diary, which described a walk with his friends. He was captivated by the view of the flaming clouds and the blue-black city and water. Shivering with anxiety, sensing «a great and infinite scream through nature.», he had to stop.

MUNCH's art historian Signe Endresen visited our livestream of The Scream to talk about about this text.

I was walking along the Road with two Friends
The Sun was setting
The Sky turned / blood red
and I felt a wave of Sadness
I stood still tired to Death
above / the blue-black Fjord and City blood and Flaming Tongues hovered
My Friends walked on
I / remained behind
shaking with Angst
I felt the great Scream in Nature