I must admit here that my choice is not wholly original, but my reflection on it might be. This is one form of Edvard Munch's The Scream of Nature, which apparently has strong associations with the philosophical tradition of existentialism. This past summer I spent much time getting familiar with existentialist thought for an independent project of mine, and because of this I find myself encountering the world with an existentialist frame of mind. Dr. Johnson referred me to this painting to use in a poster presentation for my work, only pointing out that there are strong associations. As of right now, I don't know what these apparently well-known associations are, so I will reflect on what this painting says to me in light of existentialism.
We see an androgynous figure as the subject. The figure is placed on a bridge (upon which there are two others) which appears to cross over a river and a barren landscape. The painting is not realistic; that is, the representations are not meant to appear as we might find their referent in the 'real world.' Vivid, contrasting colors are used, and there's no effort to mask the author's brush strokes. The figure itself is 'wavy.' There is a pained expression on the face--screaming. Being familiar with existentialism and seeing the unpleasant face, I can't help but think of the usual emotions or feelings to describe the existentialist frame of mind, like Heidegger's anxiety or Sartre's anguish. The feeling usually characterizes an individual's realization of her own utter responsibility to provide meaning for the world she encounters and the life she lives. This scream seems to capture just such a realization.
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