Experiment - 2. The Scream By Edvard Munch

To investigate into how altering elements of an image can affect the feelings that are being portrayed and therefore the feelings the viewer is experiencing.

I am going to look at the painting 'The Scream' by Edvard Munch. I will analyse how the feeling of fear, and loneliness is communicated in the painting. I will do this by changing the use of colour, by changing the focus of the image and by changing the use of composition within the image.

At the time of painting, Munch also created a series of paintings which have a similar theme as 'The Scream'. I will analyse the similarities and differences of the compositions and use of colour within these paintings and how an array of feelings are communicated in each of the paintings. I will investigate into whether there are any strong links that occur throughout the images and how this effects the feelings that are portrayed.

 

'The Scream' Edvard Munch 1893

 



 

 Firstly I changed the image to black and white. This takes away all influence of colour on the expression of feelings from the painting. By taking away the colour it is clear to see that the focus is the character in the front of the painting. The ghostly figure is concerning and frightening. A feeling of worry comes from the image and the figure standing in this way communicates loneliness and that the figure is scared. The way it's holding its face demonstrates terror and distress. The black body and white face draws the eye in and causes you to focus on the figure, and the rest of the painting doesn't seem to matter so much.

 For my next experiment I decided to change the colours of the image to very loud, bright colours. I did this to see if it shifted any of the feelings that had previously been communicated in the image. Bright colours automatically excel a happier, more relaxed feeling and the colours become more interesting than the image itself. You begin to forget that there's a figure in the painting that has previously communicated negative feelings because the eye is captured by the brightness of the colours and it gives the impression that the colours alone are communicating a story.

 

In this experiment I changed the colours to reflect colours that you would find in a landscape to make the image more life like. I also put a bit more definition into the face to try and communicate a more life-like image. By making the whole image reflect earthy colours, the composition comes together as one. The figure is demonstrating more of a feeling of shock in the image as appose to fear and this is due to the definition on the face, it has given the figure a different emotion to interpret.

 

As the main focus of the painting seems to be the figure in the foreground. I decided to investigate into whether blurring out different parts of the image effects the main focus and in turn, effects the type of feelings being shown in the painting.

 

 So first, I blurred out the background to see if this intensified the focus and emotion of the figure. The focus is increased on the figure, but the blurred background gives the impression of a dreamy world. So the emotions of fear and worry that the figure is portraying appears to become more of a nightmare, and therefore causes the viewer to worry less as it appears to be a dream and not real. In comparison to the original painting where the fear is clearly apparent and the viewer experiences this with the painting.

 

I then blurred the figure and left the background how it is in the original painting. I did this to see if the focus was taken away from the figure and therefore the feelings of the figure, and to see whether the background of the image translated any separate emotions.
The focus is definitely taken away from the figure, with no real detail it is difficult to tell what the figure is doing or feeling and therefore the viewer isn't able to reflect any emotion from the figure. The background is actually showing quite a peaceful setting. A walkway, next to some open water with the sun setting provides an idyllic landscape and in any other painting would appear tranquil.

 

 

 

 

 In this experiment, I blurred the whole image. There is now no main point of focus and the whole image blends into itself. This image also translates the dreamy feeling but with no main focus, this makes it difficult to pin point a specific feeling or emotion within the image.

 

I next experimented with the composition of the original 'The Scream' painting.

 

 I first made the main figure much larger. This obviously grabs the attention of the viewer and it's difficult to look anywhere but the figure. This image communicates shock and surprise. Being able to see the expression on the figures face clearer, changes the original fearful look and makes the figure look more like it's scene something that has made it jump.

 In this experiment I have made the figure smaller and moved it further back in the composition. This causes the figure to be less apparent and therefore removes the focus from it. When you look more carefully then you will see it. The landscape therefore translates the peaceful and tranquil feeling that has been shown before. However, once you do see the figure, the feeling of fear that the figure seems to show is very apparent. With the figures body seeming to disappear, the figure becomes even more ghostly and this would also communicate fear.

I have made the figure small again, however I have kept it in the same position as the original. This causes the figure to look more childlike. This could make the viewer sympathise for the figure more. Generally people feel more sorry for a child and can relate to a child as they are more vulnerable than an adult. Not only would the viewer feel the fear that the figure is communicating but it would also sympathise. 

 

In this experiment I have taken a figure from another one of Munch's paintings 'Melancholy'. I have used this figure as it has similar characteristics to the figure in the original painting, in that they are both wearing black, they both have pale skin and I have positioned this figure in the same place as the other figure but this one looks more human and has more detail.
Despite these similarities, the image communicates different feelings. The figure appears bored and almost like it's looking at nothing. As the figure appears bored and uninteresting, the viewer is then led to the rest of the painting and the colours used become much more interesting. The warmth of the orange sky against the cold of the blue gives a mixed feeling of peace and excitement.  



I will now analyse Munch's other paintings from this collection and how he has communicated different feelings from using a similar background but different figures.

'Anxiety' - Edvard Munch 1894

In this first image there is a number of people, so this doesn't communicate loneliness. The people appear to be travelling somewhere and are following the lady in the foreground of the painting. This gives a feeling of belonging as the people are together. Their ghostly faces also link together each of the figures, giving a feeling of togetherness. Although the ghostly faces do leave this impression, it also gives a negative feeling. The figures appear ill, with their green tint and their features are barely visible, giving them a non-existent impression. This linked with the title of the painting, 'Anxiety', the painting portrays a feeling of loss and fear; just not as severe as 'The Scream'.

'Despair' - Edvard Munch 1893-4

 This painting has a very strong feeling of loneliness. The figure is extremely sad and alone. This is mostly apparent through the figure in the foregrounds expression and body language. The figure is looking down which shows he's not communicating with anyone and the black clothing is dark, appearing unapproachable and therefore influencing more loneliness. There are two people in the background, on the left, who appear to be walking together. This displaying a friendship creates a contrast with the figure in the front; again, influencing the feeling of loneliness.

'Despair' - Edvard Munch 1893-4

This image is also displaying an aspect of loneliness, as the figure in the foreground is on his own, but in this image he is looking out to something which is out of the boundaries of the painting. This seems to give the figure more of a purpose and therefore the viewer does not sympathise with the figure as much as you would with the other paintings that Munch has done. 

 

 

There are a few similarities in all three of these paintings and also in the original painting 'The Scream'. The colouring of the red-orange skies is an ongoing theme through the paintings with a darker blue-purple bottom to the canvas. In each image the figures are caught in this sombre colouring which makes them appear trapped and confined, especially with the brightness of the sky where you would feel more free.

The composition of the paintings are also similar. This reoccurring theme in the images gives the impression that the setting attracts this sort of negative emotion in loneliness/fear/despair/anxiety. Maybe it's the setting that is giving of these feelings and not necessarily the figures which seem to be the main focus normally.

 

 

 I have created a rough diagram to indicate the theme of the composition to make it clear how Munch has used this in his images. There is a clear layout he has created and used in these images. The composition is divided into six sections and the colours in these sections are generally the same. Although the themes and layout are all very similar, and this provides the viewer with a general negative feeling, the feelings portrayed in the images do slightly differ and this is down to the figures and their expressions in the images.

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After creating all of my experiments, I am going to concentrate on the aspect of composition and apply what I have found from my experiments on 'The Scream' painting to my own illustration, inspired by the quote "Be who you are and say how you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind" taken from The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Suess.

This was the original sketch I did. I have based it on the composition of 'The Scream'. I feel that this is more of another experiment rather than applying what I found in doing the experiments to my own illustration.

I took my characters and put them in a composition inspired by 'The Scream'. I wanted to show the journey the make believe snail has taken in accepting that he wants to be a snail and ignoring his anxiety of other people accepting that that's what he wants to be. As you can see the trail has a lot of bends and curves, showing the struggle of peoples acceptance of him, but just a little way back on the trail is his friend who is supporting him in his choices.
The trail also leads the eye effectively through the composition, which I found worked in 'The Scream'. It leads you to the most important part of the illustration which is the characters.
The composition helps in the communication of feelings because it helps to guide the viewer through the image. The background in this illustration is quite peaceful as it's simple and I think this helps to communicate the feeling of content that the characters are feeling as they are happy within themselves.