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The Scream

October 27, 2026 · 1 h 14 min

Show notes

Why has The Scream become one of the most famous artworks in the world? And what happened when this ghoulish image was stolen - not just once, but twice? Join Alastair and James as they explore the remarkable story and surpising afterlife of Edvard Munch's enigmatic portrait of despair.

If you want to see the artworks discussed in this episode you can switch on video in your podcast app at any time.


Artworks in this episode:
Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1893, The National Museum, Oslo
Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa, 1503-19, Musée du Louvre, Paris
Edvard Munch, Morning, 1884, KODE, Bergen
Edvard Munch, The Sick Child, 1885-86, The National Museum, Oslo
Edvard Munch, Ashes, 1895, The National Museum, Oslo
Edvard Munch, The Dance of Life, 1899-1900, The National Museum, Oslo
Edvard Munch, Love and Pain (Vampire), 1895, Munch Museum, Oslo
Edvard Munch, Evening on Karl Johan, 1892, Bergen Kunstmuseum, Bergen
Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1893, Munch Museum, Oslo
Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1910, Munch Museum, Oslo
Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1895, Private Collection
Edvard Munch, Despair (Sick Mood at Sunset), 1892, Thiel Gallery, Stockholm
Edvard Munch, Despair, 1894, Munch Museum, Oslo
Andy Warhol, The Scream (after Munch), 1984, Museum of Modern Art, New York

Recommended Reading
Heidi Bale Amundsen (editor), Edvard Munch: The Scream, 2024
Sue Prideaux, Edvard Munch: Behind The Scream, 2005
Thanks to the Munch Museum.

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Follow Stories of Art on Instagram: @storiesofart.heni

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Social Producer: Grace Dewar
Producer and Editor: Ben Harding
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

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