The Scream

Today, Sotheby's will be auctioning one version of Edvard Munch's notorious series, The Scream, with some experts estimating a final bid of more than $80 million, the highest presale amount Sotheby's has ever set.  Many people are familiar with "The Scream," but what many people don't know is that the artist actually created four versions of the "face that launched 1,000 therapists."

"The Scream" has an intriguing history that includes mental illness, theft, and too-many-to-count pop culture references. Munch suffered from severe anxiety, and himself described his inspiration for the painting:

"I was walking along a path with two friends — the sun was setting — suddenly the sky turned blood red — I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence — there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city — my friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety — and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature "

It will be interesting to see who places the winning bid.