Edvard Munch
1863-1944 · Norwegian · Symbolism, Expressionism
Auction record: $119.92M
The Scream (Skrik), pastel, 1895 · Sotheby's, New York · May 2, 2012
Source: reuters.com
Biography
Edvard Munch (1863-1944) turned personal experiences of illness, love, jealousy and death into images of universal anxiety, above all The Scream, which exists in several painted, pastel and printed versions. His Frieze of Life cycle and his pioneering woodcuts and lithographs made him a founding figure of Expressionism. Because the Munch Museum and the National Museum in Oslo hold most of his key works, major paintings are scarce at auction, while prints change hands regularly. That combination creates a two-tier market: a liquid market for graphics and occasional eight- and nine-figure prices for paintings. The 1895 pastel of The Scream sold for $119.9 million at Sotheby's New York in 2012, and Midsummer Night made about $35 million in November 2025.
Recent auction results
| Sankthansnatt (Midsummer Night), c. 1901-03Sotheby's, New York | $35M | Nov 18, 2025 | nbcnews.com |
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Market
- Liquidity: Medium
Museums
- Museo Munch (MUNCH), Oslo
- Nasjonalmuseet, Oslo
- KODE, Bergen
- Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge
- Tate Modern, Londra
Sources
- Reuters, The Scream auction 2012
- NBC News, Painting 'The Scream' sells for record $120 million
- NBC News, Lauder collection at auction
- Sotheby's, lotto Sankthansnatt (Midsummer Night)
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