When comparing Jacque-Louis David’s Oath of the Horatii (1784-1785) to Edvard Munch’s The Scream (1893), many differences can be found which can shed some light on how the world changed its views of art (painting, in particular) between the Neoclassical and proto-Expressionist periods. The two paintings could not be more dissimilar; David’s work shows three brothers reaching out toward a cluster of swords held by their father in a work of stately classicism, whereas Munch’s Scream is a surrealistic portrait of a misshaped man screaming straight at the audience, with a psychedelic riverside view behind him. Both works are illustrative of their respective genres, and indicate the change in attitude that happened in those 100 years. While Oath of the Horatii is a perfect example of the Neoclassical style’s focus on flat planes, detailed human figures and simple grandiosity, The Scream indicates a change in attitude favoring chaos and experiment with form, engaging the audience directly instead of having them at a dispassionate distance.
The purpose of these paintings helps to illustrate the feelings of their respective audiences. Oath of the Horatii was commissioned by King Louis XVI during David’s stay in the Louvre; the goal was to provide an example of the nobility of loyalty to one’s country (and therefore him as well). The painting was commissioned as a piece of state propaganda, meant to value order and conventional wisdom. Being a royal commission, it was meant to be uncontroversial, and to merely express the desire for a loyal people. Munch’s The Scream, on the other hand, was not commissioned; it merely came as an inspiration for Munch after walking along a path while fairly ill, seemingly hearing the nature around him screaming. It is much more chaotic than David’s purposeful political statement, as Munch simply wanted to express the madness of the sensory experience he had, unsolicited as artistic expression.
The subjects of both these paintings echo the purposes for which they were made; Oath of the Horatii tells the tale of three brothers who go to war, and who reach out for their swords (which their father is holding for them). Munch’s The Scream shows a malformed man having an acute psychological episode, screaming into the darkness while the world shifts and mangles itself around him. David used the neoclassical art techniques in his painting; there is very little to make the background stand out, to further emphasize the characters. The swords are at the vanishing central point of the painting, making it the focus, and the characters and settings are depicted with straight lines in order to show strength. There is little evidence of brushstrokes to make it seem more realistic and grandiose. The characters are frozen in their image, with their arms outstretched and their gaze intense, projecting superiority and virtue, making them a very inspirational image. The content and message of this painting is clear; the three brothers are heroes, and we are meant to want to be like them. They center the world with their bravery, which is being rewarded by their father’s approval and help.
In The Scream, the brushstrokes are clearly evident, as the world is depicted in bursts of bright color (as opposed to the dullness of David’s Oath). The screaming man is centered near the bottom of the painting, as the orange sky and blue fjord swirl around his head to the right. The straight lines of the path help to center him, but also emphasize the swirly madness of the environment around him. Two obscured figures in the back also provide a haunting presence and compare their calm to the screaming man’s insanity. The lack of detailed features on the man’s face makes him look alien, thereby alienating him from the audience further. The man is alone, unlike David’s brothers in solidarity, which conveys the message of man’s individual insanity and the alienation that he feels when he is by himself in the middle of an uncaring world.
Both Oath of the Horatii and The Scream are deeply expressive works, respective of their genres, but also showcase a transition from stately, collectivist propaganda into something a little more individual and chaotic. In David’s painting, the world is shown to be a just, orderly and symmetrical place, made possible due to the heroism and sacrifice of a group of strong brothers who risk their lives for their family’s protection. This work was meant to glorify state loyalty and the elegance of battle. Munch’s The Scream, on the other hand, showcases a desire to explore the depths of the human mind, and engage with the audience on an emotional and psychological level, rather than a strictly political one. Munch’s work shows a vulnerability and instability that painters like David would be afraid to showcase; by making his work deliberately messy and horrifying, he elicits a more visceral, immediate response in those who look at it. This really shows the change in attitudes between 1785 and 1893 – people were more willing to look at the darkness inside than find comfort in an appealing, romantic message.
Works Cited
Chipp Reading: Munch pp. 114-115; (Hunter/Jacobus: pp. 10-11, 47-48).
