Edvard Munch’s 'The Scream' (1893) is the ultimate icon of modern anxiety. Munch actually created four versions of the composition using different media, including oil, tempera, and pastel. The image was inspired by a real experience Munch had while walking at sunset; he saw the clouds turn 'blood red' and felt an 'infinite scream' passing through nature. Contrary to popular belief, the figure in the painting is not screaming, but is actually covering its ears to block out the scream of nature. Munch was a leading figure in the Expressionist movement, which prioritized emotional experience over physical reality. His work often explored dark themes of illness, death, and fear, rooted in his own traumatic childhood. In 2012, a pastel version of 'The Scream' sold for nearly $120 million, setting a then-record for a work of art at auction.