THE SCREAM by EDVARD MUNCH has recently become the highest price artwork ever to be sold at auction.

THE SCREAM is a danger signal, a warning that human existence can at any time destroy such peace of mind as the viewer (of the picture, as well as of this note) may have achieved.

But it is not a work of art because its creator chose not to use whatever talent he had, on the day when he devised this danger signal, this warning.

Copies of THE SCREAM should be issued to every mental hospital in the world. It could be used, in very small doses, as a yardstick against which patients can measure their mental situation.

At this point, changing the subject, I think it only fair to reveal that I subscribe to the 1890 estimate of VAN GOGH’S worth as a painter. At that time, in spite of interminable efforts on his part and on the part of his picture-dealer brother Theo, he had sold just one painting. In those days the Paris art world (where Theo operated) was alive and kicking. Why would one wish to doubt its judgement? Because he cut his ear off, and failed to shoot himslf, I suppose….