‘The Scream’ (De Schreeuw in Dutch) is a memorial sculpture to Dutch film-maker Theo van Gogh located in Oosterpark (Eastern Park), which is one of the most popular parks in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Created by Jeroen Henneman, the piece is equal parts memorial and attraction, highlighting what it can mean for a monument to honor an individual while being connected to something much bigger.
Theo van Gogh was a Dutch filmmaker who worked on many films that we politically divisive. A short film that he released in 2004 criticized the treatment of women in Islam in strong terms. That same year, he would be murdered by an Islamist who objected to the film’s message near Oosterpark. The event stirred up debates about the extent and limitations of the freedom of expression across the Netherlands.
Unveiled in 2007, The Scream honors Theo van Gogh but is also connected to bigger themes related to this same freedom of expression as well as silence and rage. The piece is just under 5 feet tall and can be interpreted in several ways. Made of stainless steel, one side depicts a profile of a face that looks as if it is screaming. A closed mouth is visible on the other side of the piece, showing the tension and complexity of the concept of freedom of expression with silence.
Henneman created the piece to represent a much larger ideal. He said that he hopes the image will remind passers-by of the moment of the murder and to honor Theo van Gogh himself, who is represented as crying out for mercy.
The Scream is both a memorial for Theo van Gogh and a symbol of the freedom of speech which connects to the larger themes in Henneman’s work. This confluence represents the incredible connection that monuments can enable between people, themes and communities.
