Art — Most riveting paintings

Here are some of the most riveting paintings ever made and why they continue to captivate audiences.

Painting is an incredibly powerful art form. It can transport us to other times and places, make us feel emotions we thought were long forgotten, and give us a new perspective on the world around us. Sometimes, a painting is so intense that it takes our breath away.

Here are some of the most riveting paintings ever created, along with the stories behind them.

• The Scream by Edvard Munch — Munch painted several versions of this iconic image, which depicts a figure standing on a bridge with its hands over its ears, screaming in horror. The background is a beautiful landscape filled with bright colors, but the figure seems to be in anguish, as if it is afraid of what it might see if it looks around. Munch said that the painting was inspired by his own experience of feeling “sick and tired” one day while walking through Oslo; he felt like nature was mocking him with its beauty while he was experiencing such inner turmoil. The Scream has come to represent the fear and anxiety that many people feel in modern life. Edvard Munch’s The Scream from 1893 is an instantly recognizable painting that perfectly captures the terror and panic felt during moments of existential crisis. The bright colors and contorted figures convey a sense of utter despair that has resonated with viewers for over a century.