Day 40 - Monday, July 22, 2024 - Oslo Norway

By Ellen Outten

 

Edward Munch - The Scream 

We reached Oslo Norway at noon today.  Our docking location is excellent!  We are just across the pier from the Opera House and The Munch Museum.  Both within walking distance.

Wayne stayed on board today and nursed his knee. The steep downward discent yesterday in Stavanger didn't do him any good.

We didn't have a tour scheduled today which was great as we had a light rain all day.  

One place I promised myself I would visit that I didn't get to, when we were here June 27 and 28 was the Munch Museum.  Since it was only a mile away, I left the ship on my own and strolled over. I bought a prepaid ticket, just this morning and was glad I did.  I would have had to wait an hour before I could enter if I hadn't.



Ok, so I don't understand art the way my friend, Inez does or my cousin Frank, but I try.  Money, Van Gogh, others, I understand. Munch, I don't!

Edward Munch ( pronounced Monk) is Norways most celebrated artist.  Let's say he's prolific as well.  Three of the stories in this museum are dedicated to his work.  He does repeat subjects and you see variations on his paintings as you walk around.  

Self portrait of Munch 

Several of his works

 another self portrait 
The famous painting The Sun

This is also another version of The Sun, displayed on a different floor of the museum and three times the size of the one above.

Some of his work is huge!  They even had to take out a wall and use a crane to bring his work into the specially built museum 
I'm told that "The Scream" is the 2nd most famous painting in the world.  Others who know more than I may disagree and I'm good with that.  

Experts say that The Scream is an icon of modern art, a Mona Lisa for our time" and that it symbolizes the anxiety of the human condition, and the unique thing about it is that creates a brief anxiety condition to everyone who sees it.  Sorry, but I just don't get it.  

The painting was painted on either paper or cardboard ( not canvas) and is sensitive to light so it's only shown, once every hour and a half, in a dark room. The guard let me know  I had 15 minutes to wait.  So there I am, standing and waiting in front of a black wall with a door that was to open.  The crowd behind me starts building and building and waiting for the door to open.

Standing and waiting for the door to open to view The Scream.

I ooked at it for about 5 minutes, took my pictures and then let others have the honors.  

The Scream as a lithograph by Munch 



"Undulating lines of color reminiscent of soundwaves."

The crowd behind me all waiting to get close enough to see The Scream.

Outside the museum.  I really wanted to ride it but with the rain it wasn't running.


You can see the museum right behind it.

The Opera House is be t door. In June when I was here last, I walked up to the top  (above the glass). It's easy to do, and all outside.


We're here overnight and we have a tour of Vigeland sculpture garden tomorrow morning.  221 sculptures in stone in a park.  More pictures tomorrow. .I'm thinking I may be able to understand them better.  That's my hope.













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