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Top 5 Halloween Favorites

With October now upon us, it is time for our top 5 Halloween favorites. The air is getting colder and the nights are getting longer as the seasons change. Halloween approaches, bringing with it the thrill of a good scare. Why not add a piece of art that enhances that mood? Here are some of our top art picks to put you in a ghoulish mindset.

Edvard Munch – The Scream

Edvard Munch - The Scream

Perhaps one of the most instantly recognizable modern art images is Edvard Munch’s The Scream painting. For many, the swirling colors and look of desperation perfectly represent the torment and frustration of modern life. The use of such warm vivid tones and the dramatic brushstrokes depict a subject caught in terror. This grand statement of the horrors of human nature, in all its wondrous glory, promises to command whatever space it finds itself in.

Vincent van Gogh – The Church at Auvers

Vincent van Gogh - The Church at Auvers

The Church at Auvers by Vincent van Gogh is the quintessential image of a haunted house. It’s considered one of the great artist’s masterpieces due to its expressive Post-Impressionist style and rich, vibrant tones. The style and colors make it appear almost fantastical in nature, though this scene is based on a real location. It will transport you to a place from the artist’s darkest dreams.

Adrian Borda – Agaric Flying Dutchman

Adrian Borda - Agaric Flying Dutchman Reproduction

Coulrophobia is the irrational fear of clowns, but the Agaric Flying Dutchman by Adrian Borda will make that fear seem very rational. This is not the funny face of a childhood icon, but the enigmatic image of a creature from the artist’s imagination. His use of bright white and red on the character in the foreground, against the darkness behind it, draws the audience’s attention and creates a sense of intimacy. Give your guests a good scare, by introducing them to this circus-inspired persona.

John Maler Collier – Priestess of Delphi

John Maler Collier - Priestess of Delphi - Top 5 Halloween Favorites

Priestess of Delphi, painted by John Maler Collier, depicts the Pythia of accent Greece. She is positioned on her bronze tripod as the vapors fill the air. The gaze on the woman’s barely visible face holds the viewer’s attention, while the shadows in the background create a mystical setting. It is unknown if the woman is in a trance, or being possessed by darker forces and it is that possibility that will send chills down your back once you bring this piece into your home.

Odilon Redon – The Monster

Odilon Redon - The Monster - Top 5 Halloween Favorites

It is easy to see how The Monster by Odilon Redon could be the inspiration for the movie monster, Nosferatu. Both creatures share the eerily pointed ears and pale complexion, contrasted against the darkness of his cape. This work typifies Redon’s approach where the real world and the dream world, or nightmare, in this case, seem to converge in his art. Give all your guests a good scare by mounting this in an entryway or at the end of a hall.

These top 5 Halloween favorites are some of the spookier pieces we have to offer but are not the only options. If you are wanting to adjust your décor for the fall browse through our wonderful fall art gallery as well. There are many beautiful pieces, painted with the autumn in mind.

About the Author

Amanda graduated from the University of Kansas, where she studied English literature and got a masters degree in library sciences. She enjoys reading, cooking and playing with her nephews. Her best friend is her little dog Brady.