Halloween in Art – Historical works that teach us to be afraid

Halloween has a fascinating connection to the art world through its eerie charm and enchanting mystique. Numerous historical paintings evoke the spirit of Halloween with their themes, colors, and atmosphere.

In this article, we will first examine four iconic paintings – “American Gothic” , “Girl with a Pearl Earring” , “The Scream” and “Saturn Devouring His Son” – which, despite their different styles and origins, each bring something eerily beautiful to the world of art .

After this introduction to the eerily beautiful works of great masters of art history, we will present some further works that still send shivers down our spines today.

Halloween – A spooky and beautiful tradition from the USA

Halloween has a long tradition, especially in the USA. But it's not only in the United States that the spooky festival of Halloween is celebrated every year on October 31st. Here in Germany, too, the spooky night is gaining more and more fans.

A key part of the tradition is for children to dress up and go from house to house asking for sweets. The cry is "Trick or treat!" Halloween costumes for children are now available here in almost as wide a variety as in the USA.

At first glance, it may seem surprising that children in particular like to be scared and are fascinated by frightening costumes.

Interestingly, according to psychologists, Halloween, with all its costume ideas , helps children process their fears and build self-confidence. Witches, monsters, and ghosts, therefore, also have an educational benefit, one could argue.

4 iconic works that embody the spirit of Halloween

Halloween and art share a special connection through the emotions and inner images they evoke. Famous historical works such as "American Gothic," "Girl with a Pearl Earring," "The Scream," and "Saturn Devouring His Son" each contribute to the dark and haunting atmosphere associated with the holiday.

Whether through stark realism, enigmatic mystery, or existential anxieties – these works of art testify to art's ability to evoke the essence of Halloween all year round.

“American Gothic” by Grant Wood

In Grant Wood's "American Gothic," viewers are captivated by the somber mood and the fixed gazes of the peasant couple. The cool color palette and the rigid composition create an atmosphere of oppression and mystery.

It almost seems as if the figures are concealing an unknown story behind their faces, just waiting to be revealed. This unsettling yet fascinating aura of the painting continues to captivate viewers, making it a timeless masterpiece of art history.

"Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Johannes Vermeer

Johannes Vermeer 's painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring," created around 1665, may seem to have nothing to do with Halloween at first glance, it exudes an aura of mystery and magic associated with the holiday. The delicate beauty of the young girl, the sparkling pearl earring, and the interplay of light and shadow in the artwork's composition create a captivating atmosphere.

This masterpiece feels like a mysterious whisper from the past, an enigmatic presence that perfectly captures the timeless charm of Halloween. The deep, dark background seems to shroud the girl in a veil of mystery, while her large, dark eyes draw the viewer into the depths of the painting, much like the uncanny allure of Halloween night.

“The Scream” by Edvard Munch

Munch's 1893 painting "The Scream" embodies existential angst and the fear that can haunt our minds. The distraught figure on the bridge, surrounded by swirling, otherworldly skies, symbolizes the fear and chaos that often characterize Halloween folklore and nightmares.

The painting's twisted, ghostly, and nightmarish qualities reflect the eerie atmosphere of Halloween. It visually represents the spine-tingling experience this holiday can evoke by appealing to our deepest thoughts.

“Saturn Devouring His Son” by Francisco de Goya

Francisco de Goya is considered the last of the Old Masters and the first of the modern masters. During his lifetime, he was a successful painter and printmaker of the Spanish Romantic period. He studied under José Luzán y Martinez and Anton Raphael Mengs and later became court painter to the Spanish royal family.

After becoming seriously ill and deaf in 1793, his works became increasingly dark. One of his paintings depicts Saturn devouring his children to escape a prophecy.

This work is part of the so-called "Black Paintings," which Goya painted directly onto the walls of his house near Madrid. Although he did not intend for them to be seen by others, the painting of Saturn is particularly disturbing.

More eerie works of art full of terror and horror

Ghosts, skeletons, demons, and witches: Art history is rich in figures that inspire fear. These iconic depictions of creepy creatures are firmly rooted in the collective memory and have inspired countless artists to create their own interpretations of the uncanny.

From Francisco de Goya's dark works of the 18th century to modern horror icons like Freddy Krueger or Slender Man – the eerie and mysterious has a firm place in the art world and often reflects deep-rooted fears and insecurities of society.

"The Nightmare" by Heinrich Füssli

Fuseli's painting "The Nightmare" has terrified viewers since its first exhibition at the Royal Academy in 1782. Eighteenth-century audiences were both frightened and outraged by the sexual connotations of the painting, which depicts a sleeping woman with a small monster sitting over her.

This mythological creature is a so-called incubus, which, along with its female counterpart, the succubus, sits on the chest of sleeping people. Whether the painting depicts the woman's dream or what actually happens to her remains unclear.

With its depiction of sex, dreams and the unconscious, Fuseli's painting later gained great importance in psychoanalytic research, and Freud even had a print of it hanging on the wall of his apartment.

"The Temptation of Saint Anthony" by Joos van Craesbeeck

The painting by Joos van Craesbeeck, influenced by Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Brueghel, depicts Saint Anthony beside a gigantic head teeming with countless demonic creatures and demons. These pour forth from the man's skull, almost like evil thoughts taking physical form.

Furthermore, unusual elements such as a painter, glasses and a bird's nest can be seen there, the meaning of which the viewer can interpret.

Through the detailed depiction of the eerie creatures and demons, 'The Temptation of Saint Anthony' skillfully visualizes the dark side of human thoughts and temptations, explains Professor Müller, a renowned art historian.

The connection to the theme of Halloween lies in the representation of horror and threat, embodying the darker side of human nature. Through his impressive ability to translate abstract ideas into concrete images, the artist creates a somber atmosphere that is both fascinating and terrifying.

“The Night” by Aksel Waldermar Johannessen

Aksel Waldemar Johannessen was a Norwegian artist of the humanist painting tradition who focused on the working class and somber themes in his work. He is often referred to as Norway's "forgotten artist" because recognition came only after his death.

Johannessen trained as a sculptor and painter, initially earning his living as a furniture maker, and later as a painter. His works were characterized by an autobiographical element, as he suffered from alcoholism for many years. Thematically, his paintings range from grotesque to idyllic depictions, addressing sexuality, violence, prostitution, alcoholism, and war.

In one of his paintings, his wife was depicted as a ghostly figure in the park. The use of color (dark background colors contrasting with the bright blue and yellow tones of the figure) gives the painting a creepy and eerie effect.

“The Ghost of Kohada Koheiji” by Katsushika Hokusai

Hokusai was a famous Japanese artist from the Edo period. His most famous work is "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," which almost everyone has seen. Hokusai began painting at a young age and learned his father's craft as a mirror maker for the Shogun.

As a teenager, he apprenticed in woodcarving, printmaking, and painting. Over the course of his career, he developed various artistic styles and changed his name accordingly.

This terrifying painting depicts a scene from a Japanese legend in which a murdered actor haunts his wife and her lover. The zombie actor is portrayed in a gruesome manner, with bits of hair and skin attached to his skull. The mosquito net adds to the painting's eerie atmosphere, as the zombie actor gazes intently at his wife.

“Study after Velázquez’s Portrait of Pope Innocent X” by Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon was an Irish-British artist known for his rough painting style and religious themes. He began painting late in life, after a long career as an interior designer, bon vivant, and gambler.

His works often focused on a particular theme over extended periods. After his lover's suicide, his paintings became darker, more introspective, and preoccupied with the passage of time and death. Throughout his career, Bacon repeatedly returned to Velázquez's portrait of Innocent X, creating his own interpretations of the original.

This engagement with the original is often considered Bacon's finest depiction of a pope. Through the powerful use of purple hues and lines, Bacon transforms the image of Pope Innocent X into a terrifying representation, almost like a demonic, tormented spirit.

“Premonition” by Henryk Weyssenhoff

Henryk Weyssenhoff was an artist from Poland and Belarus who specialized in landscape painting, illustration, and sculpture. He came from Livonian nobility but spent most of his childhood in the Ural Mountains after his father was exiled to Siberia. His first art teacher was Lucjan Kraszewski.

After graduating from the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg in 1885, he received a silver medal and the official title of “artist”.

The painting depicted here is characterized by an ethereal atmosphere created by the violet palette and delicate brushstrokes. The fog and smoke in the picture, together with the eerie, ghostly figure in the center and the frightened, howling dogs, lend this artwork an incredible power.

When looking at the painting, one can practically feel the atmosphere and the fear depicted in it.

"The Spirit of the Nurse Iohata" by Kunisada

Utagawa Kunisada created this Ukiyo-e woodblock print in 1824. Instead of depicting a ghost himself, he portrays the actor Onoe Kikugoro III, who plays the role of the ghost of the nurse Iohata in a Kabuki performance.

The detailed depiction of the costumes and expressions gives the artwork a fascinating vibrancy and allows the viewer to immerse themselves in the world of Kabuki theatre.

By presenting tradition and craftsmanship in a timeless form, this work remains an important example of 19th-century Japanese art culture

“The Ghost of a Flea” by William Blake

William Blake is primarily famous for his poetry, although he also created many paintings. His paintings contain philosophical and supernatural elements, but are executed in the Romantic style. One of his paintings was inspired by a “spiritual vision” he had; in it, fleas were said to contain the souls of greedy and bloodthirsty people.

Blake's portrayal of the flea as a humanoid character could suggest that humans possess terrible qualities or that there is no clear distinction between humans and animals. Through the use of dark and muted earth tones, Blake succeeds in making the flea appear extremely creepy.

This character is the stuff of nightmares, creeping up on his victims through the darkness.

“Masked Still Life III” by Emil Nolde

Emil Nolde, a German-Danish Expressionist artist, devoted himself intensively to painting. He was among the pioneers who experimented with oil and watercolor paints at an early stage. Today, he is best known for his colorful paintings, which frequently use yellow and red tones and are characterized by an impressive brushwork technique.

Although Nolde worked in a creative profession in his youth, he only dared to dedicate himself entirely to art . The painting in question, a study of masks in the Berlin Museum, captivates with its vibrant colors and powerful brushstrokes, which lend the work a macabre and almost surreal character.

“The Temptation of Saint Anthony” by Salvator Rosa

Rosa was an Italian Baroque artist known for his rebellious nature. He learned his art from relatives, but after his father's death, he had to take on the responsibility of caring for and supporting his family.

On the advice of Giovanni Lanfranco, Rosa moved to Rome to work. After returning to Naples, he began exploring somber landscapes and creating romantic, picturesque works. Although he painted in a classical style, Salvator Rosa often chose more imaginative subjects than was common at the time.

The painting depicts a scene from the life of Saint Anthony by Athanasius, in which he is attacked by demons in the Egyptian desert. Rosa's portrayal of the demons is particularly terrifying and frightening.

Oil painting (Untitled) by Zdzisław Beksiński

Zdzisław Beksiński was a Polish artist who specialized in surreal dystopian art. His style is often described as baroque or gothic with expressionist elements. Although he studied architecture, he discovered that it didn't appeal to him and instead turned to sculpture, photography, and painting.

His paintings often express anxieties, especially in his later, more sinister works. One untitled, somber painting depicts two skeletons embracing each other.

Painted in dark, earthy reds, this powerful work conveys a sense of struggle between the pursuit of life and the inevitability of death. I find this painting particularly emotional because it addresses deep human fears.

"Witches' Sabbath" by Francisco Goya

The main character of this scene is the devil, who is depicted as a large billy goat and receives two babies, either as a sacrifice or as part of an initiation ceremony into witchcraft.

Goya had a predilection for painting witches. He was equally fascinated by superstition and fantastical imagery, but also critical of their irrationality and the ignorance of superstitious practices.

Interestingly, many actually interpret this painting as a critique of the Catholic religious zeal of the Spanish Inquisition, where fear and irrationality brought out the worst in human nature.

“The Guillotined” by Jean Louis Théodore Géricault

This terrifying painting was created by the French artist Théodore Géricault. The French painter received instruction in English sportsmanship and classical composition from Carl Vernet and Pierre-Narcisse Guérin. Despite his great talent, he grew bored with Neoclassicism and painted in the Romantic style instead.

The cruelty of this particular painting lies in the fact that Géricault's heads were discovered in the Paris morgue. He clearly did not shy away from exploring emotional and morbid themes, and placed these heads in a tragic manner, as if they were peacefully sleeping.

I believe it is deeply human to both fear and be fascinated by death.

“The Face of War” by Salvador Dalí

Salvador Dalí is one of the world's most famous surrealist artists. The Spanish artist worked in various fields, including painting, sculpture, film, and jewelry. His imaginative and eccentric style perfectly suited his surrealist work.

This terrifying painting was created during Dalí's time in California and was inspired by the traumas of war. The infinity suggested by the recurring faces in the eyes and mouth conveys the feeling of being haunted by the memory of those lost in the endless war.

Furthermore, the portrait is painted against a barren and desolate background, suggesting the feeling of isolation that accompanies depression.

This painting most likely depicts post-traumatic stress disorder and is haunting and emotional; it conveys the general feeling of being consumed by the mental illnesses left behind by the war. Dalí himself believed that his work was a premonition of the coming war.

"Princess Takiyasha summons a skeleton ghost to scare Mitsukuni" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Utagawa Kuniyoshi often depicted myths, legends, and historical stories in his woodblock prints, such as this one from 1844, which shows Princess Takiyasha summoning a skeleton to frighten Ōya no Mitsukuni.

Here you can see the princess reciting a spell written on a handwritten scroll as the giant skeleton ghost bursts through the palace walls.

“Spanish Dancer at the Moulin Rouge” by Giovanni Boldini

This talented Italian artist was dubbed the "Master of the Swish" . Boldini studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, where he encountered the Macchiaioli painters, who exerted a strong influence on him.

Boldini is primarily known for his portrait paintings, but he also painted landscapes and other subjects. His painting of a Spanish dancer at the Moulin Rouge is particularly impressive, perfectly capturing the movement of the dance.

The painting takes on an eerie quality through the multitude of hands – it seems as if a ghost is haunting the dancer.

“The Abbey in the Oak Forest” by Caspar David Friedrich

Caspar David Friedrich's paintings often feature strong contrasts, which use shadow and light to create a striking relief of the figures. This transforms details into simple, powerful forms that can serve as symbols or allegories.

The bare tree vines in this picture give us an intense, fractured sky. The somber mood that Friedrich captured still seems to hover over this real place.

"Head of a Skeleton with a Burning Cigarette" by Vincent van Gogh

To end this article on a slightly lighter note, let's look at this painting by Vincent van Gogh .

This painting, which depicts a skeleton with a burning cigarette in its mouth, was created by the young student Van Gogh as a kind of joke.

Vincent van Gogh is one of the most famous artists of all time. The Dutch post-Impressionist painter dedicated himself to landscapes, still lifes, and portraits; in total, he created over two thousand paintings, most of which were produced in the last years of his life.

Van Gogh suffered from various mental illnesses, including depression, psychotic episodes, and delusions, which repeatedly led to his admission to psychiatric clinics. During his studies at the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts, van Gogh painted this work at the beginning of 1886, where anatomical drawings were routine.

Instead of taking this exercise seriously, van Gogh immortalized his skeleton with a lit cigarette in its mouth. This slightly rebellious humor will always remain in our memories.

The Museum of Frights – Even more ghosts and horrors from art history

If you'd like even more spooky stories and eerie works, places, and objects full of mystery and dark secrets related to Halloween, then we highly recommend the Museum of Frights from the Google Arts & Culture project.

Inside you will find an enchanted archive of creepy culture, art and history, featuring art collections from the Museo Lázaro Galdiano (Madrid), Detroit Institute of Arts, The Munch Museum (Oslo), Chudnow Collection at the Cedarburg History Museum, Huntington Museum of Art and British Museum (London).