The iconic painting The Scream by Edvard Munch has been stolen two times in separate high-profile incidents. Both thefts garnered significant international attention before the artworks were eventually recovered.
Thefts of The Scream
The two instances of theft highlight the painting's enduring fame and the challenges museums face in protecting valuable art. Each incident involved a different version of the artwork, as Munch created multiple iterations of *The Scream*.First Theft: 1994 (National Gallery)
The initial theft occurred on **February 12, 1994**, the opening day of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. Thieves broke into the National Gallery in Oslo and stole one version of *The Scream*. The painting was quickly recovered just a few months later in May 1994, with three individuals eventually convicted in connection with the theft.Second Theft: 2004 (Munch Museum)
A decade later, on **August 22, 2004**, another version of *The Scream* was stolen from the Munch Museum in Oslo. During this brazen daylight robbery, armed masked men entered the museum and also took Munch's *Madonna*. The museum was located in the Tøyen district at the time of the theft. Fortunately, both paintings were recovered in August 2006, two years after they were stolen. Several individuals were convicted for their roles in this highly publicized robbery.The table below summarizes the two theft incidents:
| Year | Location of Theft | Recovery Date | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | National Gallery, Oslo | May 1994 | Recovered, multiple convictions |
| 2004 | Munch Museum, Oslo | August 2006 | Recovered, multiple convictions |
These incidents underscore the vulnerability of even the most renowned artworks and the persistent efforts required to secure cultural heritage. For more details on the painting's history, you can explore resources like this article about Ten Things You Didn't Know About The Scream.
