In pictures: Munch at Royal Academy

1 of 8 An exhibition at London's Royal Academy showcases the self-portraits of Norwegian artist Edward Munch, whose most famous painting is The Scream.

2 of 8 Munch lived in Paris until 1892, before moving to Berlin where he became involved with the city's Bohemian set. Self-portrait with skeleton arm (1895) is said to demonstrate Munch's relationship with death, a common theme in his paintings.

3 of 8 Munch had a relationship with the woman in this picture, Tulla Larsen, but it ended after he shot himself in the hand as an act expressing his desire to avoid conventional marriage. He cut the painting up after finishing it.

4 of 8 The exhibition, which runs from 1 October to 11 December, features 150 paintings, sketches and rarely-seen photographs. The works record Munch's battles with self-doubt, illness and depression.

5 of 8 Experts suggest The Empty Cross (1899-1901) displayed Munch's struggle between his religious upbringing and the Bohemian idea of pleasure without guilt.

6 of 8 In 1908 Munch suffered a nervous breakdown and entered a psychiatric clinic for treatment. During his stay he produced many new works. On leaving he returned to Norway and gave up drinking.

7 of 8 Between 1922 and his death in 1944, Munch became increasingly isolated, living as a hermit. Self-portrait The Night Wanderer shows his restlessness and loneliness, and his unsettling night-time encounters such as catching sight of his own reflection.

8 of 8 This lithograph (1895) shows the basic lines of The Scream. Munch finally produced four versions of the painting, two of which have been stolen in raids. Only one was recovered.