Bacon's pope conversely becomes a ghost as he fades away beneath his torso. To differ the emotions given by the scream, each artist has put the screamer in a different pose. Bacon uses the clenching fists to present a painful scream. Munch takes the pose of the hands covering the ears, a pose we most often see people screaming in because of mental strife. Skin colour of each screamer is unusual, causing a sickly monstrous look.
Munch matches the ugly yellow water of the fjord with the screamers hands and face.
Likewise, the purple cape of Pope Innocent X is reflected in the washed out violet of the pope's face. Finally each painter leaves his canvas in a semi-finished state. The creation of the piece is left in the piece. Bacon's paint drippings can still be seen in places. Munch's slips with the brush, missed and smudged spots still remain.