Edvard Munch's Factory Murals Head for Sale

The painter of The Scream was also an interior decorator of sorts: Edvard Munch painted a set of murals long displayed in the dining hall of an Oslo factory. Now, that canteen—currently owned by Kraft Foods—could be on its way to a sale, paintings included. Officials plan to keep an eye on the potential sale since the canteen is regarded as a national treasure; Kraft says it will make sure the paintings enter safe hands, the BBC reports.

"These paintings are light and happy, unlike many other Munch paintings," notes a Kraft rep. Commissioned by the factory's founder, the murals show daily life in Norwegian coastal towns. They were first displayed in 1923 and moved to the still-used canteen in 1934. "Munch did them as an older man—it shows he was at peace with himself," the spokesman says, noting that a sale could improve public access to the works. A version of The Scream itself is also up for sale. (More Edvard Munch stories.)