“This powerful drawing by Félix González-Torres captures a raw, screaming head with striking simplicity, using bold ink and wash to evoke intense emotion and universal human experience.”
A stark, almost primal image, this drawing captures a head in the throes of an intense scream. The figure's features are distorted, rendered with bold strokes of pen and black ink, while gray wash adds a haunting depth to the form. The artist uses a minimalist approach, focusing entirely on the emotional impact of the subject, allowing the raw energy of the expression to dominate the off-white paper. This work draws on the expressive power of drawing, where line and tone alone convey a profound sense of anguish or release. The dramatic contrast between light and shadow amplifies the feeling of urgency, making the viewer acutely aware of the internal turmoil or external shock that might provoke such a cry. It's a powerful example of how a simple subject can evoke complex human emotion.
- Artist
- Félix González-Torres
- Medium
- Pen and black ink, with brush and gray wash, over graphite on off-white laid paper
- Location
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Dimensions
- 31.6 × 24 cm (12 1/2 × 9 1/2 in.)
- Collection
- Prints and Drawings
- Culture
- Spain
- Credit line
- William McCallin McKee Memorial Endowment
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The wide-open mouth, a dark void suggesting the force of the scream.
The eyes, reduced to simple, dark shapes, yet conveying deep distress.
The rough, almost frenzied ink lines defining the head and neck.
Subtle gray washes that create volume and shadow around the screaming form.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Screaming Head — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
Félix González-Torres
1957–1996 · CubaFélix González-Torres transformed everyday objects like light bulbs and wrapped candies into profound meditations on love, loss, and public engagement.
Further Works by González-Torres
Gonzalez and Shadow
1972 · Art Institute of Chicago
"Untitled" (Bloodwork—Steady Decline)
1993 · Art Institute of Chicago
Extemporaneous
Art Institute of Chicago
Portrait of Edmond de Goncourt
Art Institute of Chicago
"Untitled" (Paris)
1988 · Art Institute of Chicago
"Untitled"
1989 · Art Institute of Chicago
"Untitled" (Silver Beach)
1990 · Art Institute of Chicago
"Untitled" (t-cell count)
1990 · Art Institute of Chicago
