Scariest Paintings

Art history is also represented by paintings with scary depictions.Often paintings that depict death are among the scariest and often include different symbolism. Some of these paintings have been inspired from mythology and others from war. Depending on what was happening at the time in the world that these paintings were created. Artists have often been interested in such topics are death.

The Garden of Death Hugo Simberg

Finnish artist Hugo Simberg had an interest in symbolism and rural life. In this artwork he shows three skeletons grooming plants. It was created in 1896 combining the symbol of dying, Death, taking care of the sign of life, the garden.

Head of a Skeleton with a Burning Cigarette Vincent van Gogh

This is one of Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh's scariest paintings. It was created in 1886 while he was studying at the Art Academy in Antwerp, Belgium.

The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Deijman Rembrandt (Pictured on top)

Dutch Golden Arge artist Rembrandt learned about the human anatomy attending anatomy lessons. He created this disturbing painting showing a brain dissection. One of the surgeosn holds the top o f the dead man's skull.

Flemish artists Pieter Bruegel the Elder was the 16th century master of scary art. his creations were filled with animal mutants, terrifying creatures, and even death representation. He used to show these depictions withing his artistic expression of Hell and shows what he considered the real suffering of lost souls.

Portrait of Picasso Salvador Dali

Spanish artist Salvador Dali portrayed artist Pablo Picasso as horror art. It was a portrait that looked like a nightmare and filled with various symbols.

Saturn Devouring His Son Francisco Goya

Prophecy said that Saturn would be overthrown by one of his children. Fearing this, he ate all of them. This Greek myth inspired Spanish artist Francisco Goya to create this painting. Saturn already ate a head and part of an arm of a human figure. Saturn looks mad with his eyes wide open, making this painting a horrifying art piece.

Medusa Caravaggio

Italian artist Caravaggio created a painting of Medusa a Greek mythology character.The Greek hero Perseus decapitated Medusa and the artist chose to depict this moment. It was created in 1597 and in the painting we can see the terror on Medusa’s face and blood dripping from her neck.

David with the Head of Goliath Caravaggio

Italian artist Caravaggio created this painting around 1610. It is among his most famous artworks, It depicts David with a realistic depiction of the decapitated head of Goliath. Caravaggio represented himself as Goliath.

Death and the Maiden Egon Schiele

Austrian artist Egon Schiele painted this artwork in 1915. It refers to the horrors he experienced as a soldier in WW I. Although tranquil at first sight, the painting is filled with tension, unrest and horror.

Death and Life Gustave Klimt

Austrian artist Gustave Klimt created Art Nouveau paintings. He was inspired by the medieval depictions of Dance with Death. This artwork depicts some grim symbolism.

War Arnold Bocklin

Swiss artist Arnold Bocklin was interested in the themes of death and mortality. He created his own version of the future of mankind. He establishes the primordial horror art here with the fire and smoke, the characters’ tense facial expressions, and Death riding a horse.

Pyramid of Skulls Paul Cezanne

French Post-Impressionist artist Paul Cezanne became obsessed with mortality and death the last years of his life. Among his scariest artworks is this painting that depicts four human skulls in the shape of a pyramid.

Death and the Child Edvard Munch

Norwegian artist Edvard Munch depicts a mother on her deathbed and a child standing nearby. The artist must have been inspired about how it ws when he lost his mother as a boy. As the mother hovers near death the little girl looks like she might he in despair not know what to do.