Bill Stoneham
The hands resist him

LA RECENSIONE

Fascinating and unsettling is this painting created in 1972 by Bill Stoneham.

At first glance, this painting seems very simple: two children behind a door.

Upon close observation, you can notice some rather strange and bizarre details: behind the dark door, you can glimpse hands in the darkness, and you also realize that the girl is actually a doll. According to the artist, the work greatly resembles a photograph of him when he was still a young boy. The door, on the other hand, depicts the world of fantasy but also of nightmares, while the doll represents his spiritual guide and his support.

But this painting, aside from being quite unsettling, carries a very sad history of deaths, so much so that it is considered a cursed object. Among the owners of the painting is John Marley, an actor who participated in The Godfather, who died in 1984. The L.A. Times reviewer, Henry Seldis, committed suicide a few years after reviewing the painting. The owner of the art gallery where the work was exhibited in 73 died in 1981.

It was accidentally found in the late 90s, and then it was sold on eBay in February 2000, thus becoming an internet phenomenon.

A not-so-cheerful story accompanies this painting which, though unsettling, hides an invaluable charm that can give you anxiety just by looking at it. A cursed and "dark" object, with a simple style and plenty of anguish.