This past week I spent 4 days on an awe-inspiring trip to Norway. I had never been before and got the opportunity to do so as a part of my Laidlaw research on The Scream, a painting by Edvard Munch.

 Edvard Munch (1863-1944) was a Norwegian painter who helped pioneer the Expressionist movement. His artwork conveys an intense sense of emotion through strong brushstrokes and bold colors, depicting mostly people and landscapes. The most famous Munch artwork is The Scream, depicting an ambiguous figure, mouth agape, hands on either side of the face, mid-scream. The figure is standing on a bridge overlooking a fjord while several onlookers watch what is occurring from the background. The sky is swirling and moody, helping to illustrate a sensation of total anxiety. The art is supposedly biographical of a personal experience of Munch, in which his mind was in an “abnormal state” whilst on a walk with friends, and is a part of the artist's series titled Frieze of Life. 

The Scream was produced by Munch multiple times, as oil/pastel/tempera on cardboard (two versions exist in this medium, one from 1893 and another from 1910), as colored pencils on paper, and as lithographs. While Edvard Munch achieved acclaim during his lifetime, his work has only garnered greater fame following his passing. The Scream is widely known across pop culture, but Munch’s other works, less popular than The Scream, are also considered Norwegian national treasures, making Munch one of, if not the most decorated Norwegian artist of all time. 

My research this summer is on art crime investigations and how theft contributes to the value of art. Because I am using the two thefts of The Scream by Edvard Munch as a case study for my research, I was motivated to take a trip to Norway and actually see The Scream for myself. I had originally intended to conduct interviews with officials from the museums where The Scream was stolen, however, my IRB approval has ended up taking longer than anticipated, so I was unable to do any active research (like interviewing) while I was in Norway. That being said, I was able to go and observe The two oil/pastel/tempera versions of The Scream which were both stolen from their respective Oslo art museums (the 1893 version from the Munch Museum and the 1910 version from the National Gallery of Oslo). 

While both the Munch Museum and National Gallery (now known as the National Museum) have both moved to newer, more secure locations since the thefts occurred, it was interesting to see how the institutions are choosing to display and protect the pieces in their aftermath. At the Munch Museum, I observed the following:

• The Munch Museum possesses three versions of The Scream, the drawing, a lithograph, and a painting (oil/tempera/pastel on cardboard). All three are on display every day, but not at the same time. The three versions are placed in a triangular room, each version behind a closing door. One version of the image is on display every half hour, while the other versions remain behind their closed doors. At the half-hour mark, the doors to the version on display close, followed by the opening of a different set, displaying The Scream in a different medium.
• This is likely to prevent thieves from being able to steal multiple versions of the image
• The Lithograph is on display 2 times more often than the other versions of The Scream, likely because it is the least valuable of the three in the Munch’s possession due to their being more lithographic versions. 
• All three of the Munch’s versions of The Scream, along with Madonna (another painting stolen from the museum) are housed behind bulletproof glass, along with many of Munch’s other paintings. 
• The Scream has its own specific guard who keeps a close eye on guests
• The new Munch Museum has many levels and less of an open concept compared to the former museum, making it harder for thieves to get in and out quickly, without getting caught, additionally the doors to each of the galleries have security systems that drop a protective barrier if necessary, blocking access in and out of the rooms. 
• Another additional piece of information that I overheard had to do with where the museum’s stolen Scream was found. The Norwegian police decided in 2006 that they would not publicize how they found the missing Munch’s paintings (The Scream and Madonna) after they had been stolen from the Munch Museum in 2004. This being said, I overheard a museum guard pointing out a water stain on the since-recovered Scream, and attributing the watermark to The Scream being found in a boat in Oslo, which is not public information, (as a result I have not found information corroborating this guard’s point, but it is very interesting to ponder).

At the National Museum, I had fewer notes, only that a guard stands right beside The Scream at all times, ensuring that visitors don’t get too close or try anything nefarious. That being said, it was so cool to have the opportunity to view the pieces I was researching up close and personal!

In addition to visiting The Scream and the museums in Oslo, I also got to visit the Norwegian city of Bergen. This beautiful port town is known as the gateway to the fjords and was breathtaking. I took my Dad along with me for this trip and we took a gorgeous 7-hour train ride from Oslo to Bergen filled with rolling green hills, snowy mountains, wild lavender, and quaint farms. In Bergen we took the most gorgeous fjord tour (I highly recommend taking one) and got to explore the city for a few days, riding scooters around the cobblestone streets and taking the funicular to get a view of the city below. We also stopped by the Kode, another well known Norwegian art museum in Bergen to take a look at some more Munch’s (although not The Scream) as I really wanted to see as much Munch artwork as possible on the trip. 

I had the most amazing time getting to experience Scandinavian art and culture and do background research on my Laidlaw topic! I feel so fortunate to have been able to travel as part of my Laidlaw experience and surround myself with so much art and beauty. I know this trip definitely provided me with valuable knowledge and inspiration for the rest of my research this summer and is an adventure I will take with me for the rest of my life.