What art movement is Edvard Munch's "The Scream" considered a precursor to?

Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” is considered a precursor to Expressionism.

Munch painted the best-known versions in the 1890s, before Expressionism became established as a major artistic movement in Germany in the early twentieth century. Rather than presenting a realistic scene, he distorted color, line, perspective, and the human figure to communicate anxiety and psychological intensity.

That emphasis on inner emotion over faithful visual representation became central to Expressionist art. Munch’s work strongly influenced younger German and Austrian artists, even though he was often described more precisely as a Symbolist or a proto-Expressionist rather than as a member of a formal Expressionist group.

The movement should not be confused with Impressionism. Impressionists generally explored changing light and immediate visual sensation, while Munch used simplified forms and unnatural colors to express mental states. “The Scream” therefore stands at a historical crossroads: rooted in late nineteenth-century Symbolism but influential in the development of modern Expressionism.