De Schreeuw

De Schreeuw (The Scream) is a sculpture in the Oosterpark in Amsterdam that commemorates the assassinated Dutch film-maker Theo van Gogh. The monument was designed by Jeroen Henneman as a symbol of freedom of speech.

De Schreeuw
De Schreeuw in 2012
Artist	Jeroen Henneman
Year	2007 (2007)
Medium	Stainless Steel
Subject	Freedom of speech
Dimensions	4.5 m (180 in)
Location	Oosterpark NL
Coordinates	52°21′34″N 4°55′20″E

Background

Theo van Gogh was assassinated on 2 November 2004 in the Linnaeusstraat in Amsterdam, just a few steps away from the Oosterpark. The assassin was Mohammed Bouyeri.^[1] In 2007 Henneman created the sculpture as symbol of freedom of speech.^[2]

History

The 4.5 m (15 ft) high heat-blasted stainless steel statue is in the form of a stylized profile of a face that screams on one side and has a closed mouth on the other. The work shows the tension and complexity of the theme of freedom of expression and how Van Gogh was silenced.^[3]

The designer, Jeroen Henneman, said on the occasion of the unveiling that he hopes the image will remind passers-by of the moment of the murder; "to Theo van Gogh, who cries out for mercy."^[4]

See also

• List of outdoor sculptures in the Netherlands

References

1. "The murder that shattered Holland's liberal dream". The Guardian. 7 November 2004. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
2. DiPiazza, Francesca (2011). Netherlands in pictures (2nd ed.). Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century Books. p. 49. ISBN 9780761346289. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
3. "Monument Theo van Gogh defaced with black marker". DPG Media BV. 15 September 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
4. Karpowicz, Jeremiah (2022). "Modern Monument: The Scream by Jeroen Henneman Serves as a Memorial and Symbol". The Momentous. Retrieved 11 November 2022.