Munchkin

. . . roll-over image links for previews or follow the theme trails by clicking on each image to proceed to the next . . .

The Scream (1893) was originally titled 'Despair', and is the most famous of 'The Frieze of Life' series by Norwegian Expressionist painter Edvard Munch (1863-1944).

Munch painted the series, depicting what appears to be existential angst, following an experience that he described in his diary:

"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 has been suggested that the blood red hue of this sunset was attributable to particulates released by the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa. However, it seems unlikely that significant levels of particulates could have persisted as late as 1892.

Munch's parents, a brother, and a sister died while Edvard was young, perhaps explaining the bleakness and despair characteristic of much of Munch's work.

For those who imagine that Bipolar Affective Disorder is distinct from Dissociative Identity Disorder here is an article discussing "Bipolar illness, creativity, and treatment".

Vortices

. . . roll-over image links for previews or follow the theme trails by clicking on each image to proceed to the next . . .

This image reminded me of cloud vortices.

On the topic of clouds, J.M.W. Turner painted the "The Fighting Temeraire" in 1838. I have heard the suggestion – I forget by whom – that Turner's vivid sunsets may have been attributable to atmospheric particulates from the eruption of Krakatoa. This would be impossible since the 19th century eruption of Krakatoa occurred in 1883. (Perhaps the person making the suggestion was dyslexic. It is also possible that I am muddling this Krakatoa-sunset association with a postulated connection between Edward Munch's 1893 painting of The Scream. )

Kerinici volcano on Sumatra has erupted at least twenty times since its first recorded eruption in 1838, as did Semeru volcano on Java. In the northern hemisphere, the Veniaminiof, Pavlof, Shisaldin, Akutain, and Carlisle volcanoes erupted in Alaska. So, particulates from an explosive volcanic eruption could have caused Turner's vivid sunset.