Edvard Munch
1863-1944 · Norwegian (Loten/Oslo) · Expressionism
Known for: Painter of The Scream, the universal symbol of modern anxiety and existential dread
Munch's life was shadowed by death - his mother and sister died of tuberculosis when he was young, and his father's religious mania terrified him. These traumas fueled art of raw emotional power, culminating in The Scream, one of the most recognized images in world art.
He was an alcoholic who suffered a nervous breakdown in 1908. After recovery, his art became calmer but less intense. He was paranoid about his paintings, calling them his 'children.' The Nazis declared his work 'degenerate' but he survived the occupation, dying at 80.
Browse all 1,000 figures by category
Enable JavaScript to view the full "if they lived today" Q&A and personality profile.