Many people think of Edvard Munch when they hear this question, but in fact, it was Salvador Dali who painted the scream. Dali was a Spanish surrealist artist who lived in the early 20th century. He was known for his strange and dreamlike paintings, which often featured images that were melting or distorted. The scream painting is one of his most famous works, and it captures the feeling of terror and despair that Munch felt when he saw it.