It can be said that art is the result of the human mind’s influence on reality, and art affects the human mind in response. It is the ouroboros of human beings and nature. The chosen work of art that inspired the author of this paper most during the course is The Scream by Edvard Munch (Munch, 1893). According to Friedlaender and Friedlaender (2018), “four versions of The Scream were completed by Munch between 1893 and 1910, using combinations of oil, tempera, pastel, and crayon on cardboard” (p. 202). This paper aims to describe how The Scream, art, and the class influenced me.
The Instructive Component of The Scream
The way in which the creation of The Scream was inspired is interesting and unique. The Scream is based on “Munch’s actual experience of a scream piercing through nature while on a walk, after his two companions, seen in the background, had left him” (“The scream, 1893 by Edvard Munch,” n.d., para. 2). Such a pure and spontaneous expression of emotions allowed the artist to depict one of the most accurate and well-known images of fear, panic, and anxiety. It teaches other artists and designers how to seek inspiration from pure and negative emotions in career and personal life. The Scream is also instructive in a practical way. It was the unusual brushwork techniques that the artist used to depict the almost complete fusion of a screaming person, namely himself, and the background that made this painting iconic.
The Influence of Art
Art is one of the oldest and presumably, the first method of human expression. Through art, people depict significant historical events and daily routine, express their feelings, and criticize society. From rock art to modern digital art, people can see the highs and lows of human civilization. Unlike literature, philosophy, music, and drama, art can convey a profound message in a single form. Moreover, art is not only capable of depicting the moments of past and present, but also predicting the future. The Scream was not only about Munch’s fears (“The Scream,” n.d.). I believe that The Scream drawn at the end of the nineteenth century predicted and showed people the mental state of humanity in the twentieth century.
The Potential Impact of the Class
Studying art and design is essential for artists and designers. I believe that this class will give me the skills to understand and interpret artworks correctly. I think that I will gain knowledge about interconnections between different disciplines and how they influence each other throughout humankind’s history. It will also allow me to understand the context, references, and message of various artworks and convey effectively and expressively personal thoughts and feelings through paintings, stories, and melodies.
Conclusion
This work describes personal thoughts about how one piece of art, art in general, and learning affects me. The piece of art that influenced me the most is The Scream by Edvard Munch. The research on how the author was inspired to paint it and what drawing techniques he used will be useful to many future artists and designers. I believe that art is the most influential cultural element because it can tell about the events past, show the present, and even foresee the future in a single picture. I also gave my personal opinion about the potential impact of the class.
References
Friedlaender, G. E., & Friedlaender, L. K. (2018). Edvard Munch and the scream: A cry for help. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 476(2), 200-202.
Munch, Edvard. (1893). The scream [painting]. The National Museum, Oslo, Norway. Web.
The scream, 1893 by Edvard Munch. (n.d.). Edvard Munch. Web.