Cursed Canvases: Spine-Chilling Stories Behind 5 Most Haunted Paintings

Art can inspire, comfort, and provoke thought — but some paintings seem to stir something far darker. Across the world, tales circulate of artworks that bring misfortune, fear, or inexplicable events to those who own or even gaze upon them. Whether rooted in folklore, tragic history, or unsettling coincidence, these “cursed canvases” continue to fascinate and terrify. Here are five of the most spine-chilling examples as shared by one of the top contemporary artists and painters in India, Shantala Palat, in this blog.

The Hands Resist Him – Bill Stoneham

Often called “the most haunted painting in the world,” The Hands Resist Him shows a boy standing beside a life-sized doll, with ghostly hands pressing against a glass door behind them. Painted in 1972, it became infamous after being listed on eBay in 2000 with claims that its figures moved, vanished, or even stepped out of the frame at night. Owners reported nausea, fainting, and disturbing dreams — as though the painting itself was alive.

The Crying Boy – Giovanni Bragolin

In the 1980s, a series of mass-circulated prints of The Crying Boy became linked to a bizarre curse in the UK. After several house fires, investigators found the painting remarkably intact in the ashes. Rumours spread that owning the image invited disaster. While skeptics point to the fire-retardant materials used, the unsettling coincidence was enough for many to destroy their copies.

These cursed canvases remind us that art can carry more than just paint on canvas — sometimes, it holds shadows, stories, and fears that survive long after the artist is gone.

The Stagecraft (or The Hanging Man)

This eerie work depicts a shadowy theatre scene where the stage’s backdrop reveals a chilling sight — a hanging figure suspended above the floor. While details of its origin remain murky, legend says it’s tied to a real-life tragedy involving an actor’s death during a live performance. Viewers have reported sudden dizziness, whispers, and even fleeting visions of the man’s swinging body when staring at the piece for too long.

The Dead Mother – Edvard Munch

Edvard Munch, famed for The Scream, painted The Dead Mother in 1899, showing a wide-eyed child before her deceased mother’s bed. The stark expression of shock, coupled with Munch’s own grief from losing his mother young, seems to carry a lingering sadness. Owners and museum staff have claimed to hear phantom rustling of bedsheets or the faint sound of a child’s sobs in its presence.

Portrait of Samantha Houston

Hanging in the Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas, this portrait depicts Samantha Houston, the young daughter of a U.S. senator who died tragically after chasing a ball down a staircase. Though intended as a memorial, guests have reported that her eyes seem to follow them, and her facial expression subtly changes. Some even hear giggles or feel a playful tug at their clothing while near the painting.