Art has always been a medium for human expression and artists put a lot of soul and emotions into their paintings, but sometimes, the stories behind certain paintings are much more chilling than the art itself. Haunted paintings, believed to be imbued with the spirits of their creators or subjects, have long been a source of fascination and fear. As Halloween approaches, we will take you on a bone-chilling journey through the top 5 most haunted paintings from around the world.
1. The Anguished man by Unknown Artist
This oil painting created by an unknown man, is known to be one of the most haunted paintings in the world. According to legend, the unknown artist mixed the painting with his own blood and shortly after this, he committed suicide for unknown reasons. It is currently owned by Sean Robinson from Cumbria, England who inherited the painting from his grandmother. The painting is said to bring unease, terrifying dreams, and ghostly apparitions to those who own it. Even though the owner Sean experiences paranormal activities, he loves the painting and finds it difficult to part with it. So currently, Sean intends to continue to search for the artist and see if he can find out what is really behind The Anguished Man.
2. The Crying Boy by Giovanni Bragolin
The Crying Boy is a series of tearful boys created by an Italian artist, Giovanni Bragolin, which was mass produced and distributed in the 1950s up until the 80s .
The legend of 'The Crying Boy' began in the 1980s when multiple homes that displayed the painting mysteriously caught fire. What was truly perplexing was that, in each of these blazes, the 'Crying Boy' painting remained miraculously unscathed while everything around it was reduced to ashes. This led to wild speculations about the painting's connection to the fires.
As the news of these unusual fires spread, stories of a curse associated with 'The Crying Boy' started to circulate. People believed that owning or even just having the painting in one's possession could lead to disasters, especially in the form of destructive fires. Many owners began to fear the eerie connection between the painting and the blazes.
Currently, its unknown as to where the original painting really is.
3. The portrait of Samantha Houston by Richard King
The cheery portrait painted by Richard King, depicts an adorable 4 year old girl called Samantha Houston, daughter of a US senator and it carries a haunting legend. So goes the tale, the young Samantha Houston, the daughter of a U.S. senator, fell to her death while staying at the Driskill in the year 1887. Present-day guests claim that merely gazing upon the painting makes one feel dizzy, as though you, too, are tumbling down a set of stairs. Others claim to have encountered Samantha's ghost in the hotel halls, or say that if you look at the painting long enough, Samantha’s face contorts.
4. The Women of the Rain by Svetlana Telets
This was created by Svetlana Telets, a Ukrainian artist in 1996. The creation of this art has an eerie story behind it which sends shivers down one’s spine. According to Svetlana, her hands were guided over the canvas by some unbeknownst force, propelling her to finish The Woman of the Rain in just 5 hours. What came out of that work is a gloomy and dark figure shrouded in black clothing, standing in the rain.
While the painting itself looks like any other portrait, it has perplexing side effects for viewers like sleeplessness, anxiety and a constant feeling of someone watching them.
Everyone who bought the painting would return it back to Svetlana with some even ready to give it back for half of what it originally cost.
The painting currently hangs in a salon in Kiev where customers occasionally report the painting showing signs of anger.
5. The Hands Resist Him by Bill Stoneham
This oil on canvas artwork depicts a young boy in front of a panelled door with hands pressing against it from the inside, with a sad-looking, life-sized doll standing beside him, which was painted by Bill Stoneham in 1972.
The painting was listed on e-bay and many buyers admitted to having difficulties breathing, feeling the need to cry for no reason and other supernatural events such as the characters in the paining moving in the night.
This painting is currently owned and displayed at Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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