Strange and Mysterious

Vanishing Acts: Japan’s “Evaporated People” in Art
In Japan there is a chilling phenomenon known as “evaporation” — people simply vanish from their lives and disappear without a…
Rumpelstiltskin and His Influence on Art
The fairy tale known as Rumpelstiltskin was first published by Jacob Grimm (1785–1863) and Wilhelm Grimm (1786–1859) in 1812. Appearing in…
The Sinister Symbols of the Zodiac Killer: How Violence Inspired Art
The Zodiac Killer remains one of the most chilling unsolved cases in American history. Active between 1968 and 1974, this unidentified…
The Dark Side of Voodoo Art
Voodoo art, sometimes spelled Vodou or Vodun depending on the region, remains one of the most misunderstood traditions in global religious…
The Art of New Orleans Cemeteries
New Orleans is unlike any other city in America, and nowhere is that more evident than in its cemeteries. Locals call…
Surgical Art Through the Ages: Gruesome Yet Gripping
For centuries, artists have turned their gaze to the operating table, capturing scenes of surgery that range from deeply symbolic to…
Van Gogh’s Lost Portrait of Dr. Gachet: Mystery & Facts
Vincent van Gogh spent the final months of his life in the small French village of Auvers-sur-Oise, a short train ride…
The Gargas Cave Handprints: A Missing Fingers Mystery
Gargas Cave, or Grotte de Gargas, is nestled in the limestone hills near the village of Aventignan in the Hautes-Pyrénées region…
The Chupacabra in Art: Folklore and Fear
The chupacabra legend emerged explosively in Puerto Rico in March 1995, when local woman Madelyne Tolentino claimed to witness a creature…
The Story of the Zbruch Idol
In 1848, during a period of unusual drought, a limestone statue was pulled from the shallow waters of the Zbruch River…
Poppets in Folk Magic: Cursed Dolls and Witchcraft
The use of dolls as magical instruments traces back to the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean. In Greece and Rome, small…
Inside Civil War Battlefield Photography
The American Civil War (1861–1865) was the first conflict extensively documented through photography. Long before combat footage or live news broadcasts,…