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(Photo: www.The-line-up.com)
"The Hands Resist Him" by Bill Stoneham
When you look at this painting for the first time, it doesn't really feel creepy and then you notice the hands pressed against the glass divider behind the boy. And once you see them they cannot be unseen.
This painting by Bill Stoneham was based on a photograph from the artist's childhood. The hands apparently represent the barrier between the waking world and the world of fantasy and impossibilities, while the doll is a guide that will escort the boy through.
The painting was first put up for exhibition and purchased in 1974, by 1984 the gallery owner, the buyer and the art critic who first wrote about it had all died.
But that was just the beginning. The painting resurfaced on eBay. The family selling it claimed that the boy and doll from the artwork came to life with the doll pointing a gun at the boy. Several people even claimed that just looking at the painting made them sick and in extreme cases even caused blackouts.
Initially listed for $30, the painting was eventually sold for $1025 to gallery owner Kim Smith. It now sits in the gallery's storage space.
The painting has become so famous that a mere google search of 'ebay haunted painting' will lead to more stories about it.
The artist however was amused to learn of the story of his painting and the fear it seems to have caused. He spoke more about how the painting came about in this interview.
He also painted a sequel in 2004 called Resistance at the Threshold in 2004.
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