Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
1.5Mviews
Polish Painter Who Learned To “Photograph Dreams” – His Works Will Give You Nightmares
Let us take you on a journey through the curious drawing ideas of a Polish artist, Zdzisław Beksiński, who made a name for himself with his dystopian surrealism paintings, filled with post-apocalyptic imagery and creatures that come straight out of nightmares.
The artist is no longer with us to better explain the vast roster of over 300 of his scary drawings, but he used to say: "I wish to paint in such a manner as if I were photographing dreams. And that is exactly what popped into my head when I first saw his creepy pictures. Even though they utilize recognizable everyday objects, those are paired and arranged in ways only the dream world could sustain in a single image.
These unseen combinations gave birth to mind-bending scenarios, building an anxious feeling while looking at them. The cool drawings are beautifully abstract, yet they have the power to invoke real-world references, making them even creepier. The artist's explanation? Well, it may lie in these cryptic words: "What matters is what appears in your soul, not what your eyes see and what you can name."
Now scroll down for a dose of scary monsters and demon drawings below.
This post may include affiliate links.
#5
Carol Alanis 7 years ago
I don't know why but the yellow light makes me feel hope and peace, even though it's kinda sad and scary.
Miss Midnight 7 years ago
"You send send your children to war/To serve bastards and whores..." The horror and sorrow of wars.
Charles Laster 7 years ago
'and I was sat down in a valley of dry bones.. And lo, they were very dry, and the most high asked me, son of man what say you can these bones live.. And I answered I you say so. ' ezekiel'.
angel antoun 7 years ago
That's sickening close to the truth if one can visualise the truth in war
Patrick McKenna 7 years ago
and this is what it would look like to pile mass dead soldiers, this painter was genius
Julie Poulsen 7 years ago
To me, this one should remind us, of all the soldiers, who lost life during 2. World war.. Cause to me, it looks like the bodies are wearing helmets, eqaul to those from the war. I absolutely love this one!
Hassaan Malik 5 years ago
The dead from have gathered up. Asking of justice from modern world "O why us to sacrifice, why ?"
Angel Reuber 6 years ago
All those who have died before us in vain, unaware of one another, maybe even not realizing they are dead...a truly hellish existence.....so grim. I'd love to know what this man's life was like to raise these images from deep in his subconscious mind....maybe a feeling of disconnection which so far seems like a common theme
Barry Johnstone 7 years ago
There is a disturbing similarity to the Swiss Airbrush artist, Heinrich Geiger.
Debra Newell 7 years ago
What did this man do in his life time I wonder...such horrific dreams
Lisa Rood 7 years ago
War.....This is it's TRUE face. And the costs it extracts, from mankind......OBSCENE, in it's collection of DEAD! And those who are required to pay the most......Our YOUNG! If THIS does not make ALL HUMANKIND THINK......We ARE, IRREDEEMABLE! And MUST, go the way of extinction..... for the PLANET'S...... SURVIVAL!
Angie Cates 7 years ago
The detail in this one is absolutely amazing. What a web of info. Everytime you look at it you see something new...
Andy Mac 7 years ago
Charming fella!,must have had a weird childhood,or lots of drugs,i've never had a nightmare in my life,and going by this,i never want to,talk about dreary,not a single happy dream,wow!
J Browne 7 years ago
Well considering he grew up in in war torn Poland during WWII I imagine he saw a lot of pain we cannot even fathom.
Load More Replies...
Add New Image
What do you think ?
John L 7 years ago
I believe its safe to say that WWII played a major part in the artist's outlook of the universe. The destruction caused by the Nazis, and then the Soviets were horrible and must have had an everlasting impression on him. After all, he was only 11 when the war began, and 16 when it ended with occupation. No wonder he was so happy on the outside and so preoccupied with death and destruction in his subconscious, which found its way into his art.
Zuzanna Sendor 7 years ago
This is not entirely true. He was often asked about the war's influence on his work and this is what he said in one of the interviews (rough translation from Polish): "I was 10 when the war began. I was raised on comic books, death rays and Martians so I expected that war will bring spectacular experiences. Yet, war in my opinion as a child was just a change of the officials and bad food. Then it's rather difficult to admit I'm painting the catastrophe of war that I remember from childhood. Honestly speaking, I was actually disappointed with the lack of *special effects*. That's the way I'd put it. Of course I saw the dead and I survived the longlasting front, but for children such things are like water off duck's back." (quote from his art dealer's site http://beksinski.dmochowskigallery.net/introduction.php)
Load More Replies...
Zori the degu 7 years ago
Beksinski' s work make you think. He combined beauty, horror and human fears to create something that captivates our attention and mind. The hairs on my neck went straight before I reached the end of the first page, yet I continued to the end of the list(as many of the other pandas did for sure) because there's something about these pictures' dark style that make you wish to see more no matter how terrified you are.
Jerie Ragsac 7 years ago
Beksinski was an amazing artist. He channeled his emotions through his work like depression, paranoia, fear.. Strangely, I was first introduced to his works in my Psychology class back in college and not in Humanities (which is like Art Class here), lol. Wasnt he already featured in BoredPanda before? (I remembered because I soft copied all the paintings featured)
Michel M. Prins 7 years ago
Zdzisław Beksiński was a very interesting artist and I think he was an amazing influence to other artists. But it's always sad to realize that he had to deal with so many tragic parts in his life. Even though many said he was a kind and loving person. His works aged very well and, in my opinion, are timeless. And the thing is, I'm not even a fan of post-apocalyptic and/or nightmare artworks, but they always look incredibly stunning! Mister Beksiński did an incredible job on these works!
Lucky Lambdin 7 years ago
If Beksinski wants to re-torture himself with such unpleasant imagery, guess that's up to him. Me, have similar dreams, but do my best to leave them behind & forget them.
Migdalis Gonzalez 7 years ago
I think he visits every night Dante's World... but maybe are realitys of our worst nightmare's in parallels dimensions.
Robert L. Hudson 7 years ago
I could come close to painting one of those than dreaming it!
Load More Replies...
Barbara Gaweł 7 years ago
Beksiński painted for throw out self his thougs during his ilness( he had schizophrenia and he knew it) I'm fascinated his paining very early because my father's family home are in Sanok. I remeber as one day touched his stone paint because i couldn't belive this was only paint...I very recommend to see his pieces of art which are available in old castle in Sanok! P6160039-5...b9f8f7.jpg 
Dżoana Kałuża 7 years ago
There are galleries in Krakow and Sanok- if you ever visit Poland (which I highly recommend :) ). If you are realy lucky, there can be an exhibition in other city like Warsaw. Once there was even Virtual Reality show. Just imagine a stroll in a world made of his paintings... or Dali's, or other painters. Great idea!
Camille Bequette Salls 7 years ago
I think these are beautiful, and also creepy. It takes a true artist to create something that truly gets under someones skin and makes them feel fear, and emotion.
Phil McConnochie 4 years ago
I've seen the one where hes walking through the tall cliffs number 8. i like that one.
Nour Dabbabi 7 years ago
half of the people in their comments are saying either this is scaring them , or he needs to get helps x) but i don't think so , this guy is a genius , he has a perfect memory and he draws with precision , he not only artistically genius , he's a prodigy and his brain is a treasure , he should be appreciated and applauded for the work he's doing , what he paints and the ways he paints it is so unique , so unique that no one actually did this before , i love his work and i would love to see more. It's so amazing and breath taking , his dreams are so mystical and beautiful even if they're dark , but then again , darkness is what makes an artist who he truly is.
Stephanie Merryman 7 years ago
It gave me goosebumps but i enjoyed his style, its different. I think if i was able to share some of my dreams er-nightmares, hed be the only one to capture them with the horror they are...
Shiva Dheva 7 years ago
Thank you very much for posting these. I got so impressed that I decided to book a trip and visit the exhibition in Sanok.
David Grant 7 years ago
what kind of dreams does this guy have to get inspired for his paintings?
Magnus Eckhoff 7 years ago
https://www.facebook.com/lixpen/videos/827586164060587/ https://truththeory.com/2017/04/27/polish-painter-learned-photograph-dreams-works-will-give-nightmares/ Exact same articles?
Christine McCosmoes 7 years ago
I wonder if he is channeling images that are in the collective Mind of the Polish zeitgeist. If these aren't products of his own consciousness operating at a deep level, then perhaps his vision is penetrating deeper than his own mind?
Robert L. Hudson 7 years ago
Is anyone familiar with Count Alfred Habdank Skarbek Korzybski ([kɔˈʐɨpski]; July 3, 1879 – March 1, 1950)? This is Wiki's first paragraph on him but I see some connection between him and Beksinski or at least how looking at what Korzybski says about human thought would be helpful in trying to understand Beksinski: (He) was a Polish-American independent scholar who developed a field called general semantics, which he viewed as both distinct from, and more encompassing than, the field of semantics. He argued that human knowledge of the world is limited both by the human nervous system and the languages humans have developed, and thus no one can have direct access to reality, given that the most we can know is that which is filtered through the brain's responses to reality. His best known dictum is "The map is not the territory".
Robert L. Hudson 7 years ago
I didn't see any references to Hieronymus Bosch. These are further down that same road (less traveled) but given that Bosch painted 500 years ago he is still the winner of whatever we shall call this award. Perhaps we could say that Zdzislaw Beksinski is last century's winner of the Hieronymus Bosch award.
Samia Akhtar 7 years ago
Dint evoke much except a little gloom...yes we all have skills in our head which appear once the skin and flesh decompose. .move on feed the poor
Robert L. Hudson 7 years ago
Were they going for irony to have ONE of those require extra acknowledgement of maturity (based on the flimsiest of criteria, age)?
MOON SORCERESS 7 years ago
if these were when he was sleeping this was in the void and not just dreams .. but i see a theme.. the void doesn't have a theme it is random.. and hell like you never know what u will see there , no plot , no reason..
Magdalena Kucharska 7 years ago
It's sad that this truly talented artist died in...a robery. 2 guys broke to his house, killed him and stole...about 100 dollars and vhs player. Sounds like a joke but it's true :-(
Rolando Lios Carballo 7 years ago
Con tanta belleza que existe a nuestro alrededor, pienso que hay que estar un poco mal espiritual y mentalmente para realizar este tipo de pintura.
Alexander Boldizar 7 years ago
If you click through these, they're all the stuff of nightmares. All is fine, until you get to image #32, which you need to click that you're over 18 to view. Click, and shock, the image shows boobs. How ridiculous can our society get?
rick hctep (Rick45) 7 years ago
I think this Polish painter needs to leave that Polish spirit alone for a while.
Jordan Westphal 7 years ago
From software made blood borne and the dark souls games correct? I think I would be into something of that nature but I'm not going to buy a game I have no input on. They any good
Load More Replies...
Edyta Złotucha 7 years ago
I still remember when I first saw an album with his paintings in the local bookstore as a young child, love him since then.
Chris Panuccio 7 years ago
It's already in the article haha (wouldn't let me change my comment)
Load More Replies...
Chuck López 7 years ago
Where are these "everyday objects" you mentioned the artist used on his paintings?
Dżoana Kałuża 7 years ago
Car, mirror, train (?) carriage- I know of these
Load More Replies...
Anna Salerno 7 years ago
OMGosh most of his work shown here is beyond horrifying to me. This man must have been tortured when he slept. To actually experience visions like these is downright anguish for the normal person to even imagine!
Chuck Anderson 7 years ago
This work is truly spectacular. H.R. Geiger had visions on this scale. I too had nightmares that reflected the feelings that I get when contemplating this art, that is until I stopped believing is religion.
Luke Prior 7 years ago
#24 is what I imagine a mistwairth from the mistborn series to look like.
Dżoana Kałuża 7 years ago
You can also try gallery in Sanok. There you can find it online: http://beksinski.dmochowskigallery.net/galeria_past.php?lang=e
Load More Replies...
lemontzz aide 7 years ago
Beksinski didn't scare me ;) I am deeply saddened though. While this is great for the viewer, it is different for the one who experiences this life - the one who HAD TO LIVE with it. It was a life dealt to him - so young. I love them tho - ALL the pieces, although saddened. How could one look at any of these & not be affected? Wonderful, tragic works.
brandon sat 7 years ago
a lot of these remind me of stuff that would be in the hellraiser movies.
boredhuman 7 years ago
Elon Musk is planning to connect the brain to a computer in the next 5 years. I hope he can pull this of because it would be amazing to "capture" dreams and then play it somehow.
Daria B 7 years ago
These are great, but they're not my nightmares... They look more... Realistic than that... Less confusing, more vivid, more colourful, and sometimes they're in black and white.
Daria B 7 years ago
Now the title is better. Thank you, Bored Panda administrators, for listening to our opinions. ♥
Load More Replies...
John L 7 years ago
I believe its safe to say that WWII played a major part in the artist's outlook of the universe. The destruction caused by the Nazis, and then the Soviets were horrible and must have had an everlasting impression on him. After all, he was only 11 when the war began, and 16 when it ended with occupation. No wonder he was so happy on the outside and so preoccupied with death and destruction in his subconscious, which found its way into his art.
Zuzanna Sendor 7 years ago
This is not entirely true. He was often asked about the war's influence on his work and this is what he said in one of the interviews (rough translation from Polish): "I was 10 when the war began. I was raised on comic books, death rays and Martians so I expected that war will bring spectacular experiences. Yet, war in my opinion as a child was just a change of the officials and bad food. Then it's rather difficult to admit I'm painting the catastrophe of war that I remember from childhood. Honestly speaking, I was actually disappointed with the lack of *special effects*. That's the way I'd put it. Of course I saw the dead and I survived the longlasting front, but for children such things are like water off duck's back." (quote from his art dealer's site http://beksinski.dmochowskigallery.net/introduction.php)
Load More Replies... Zori the degu 7 years ago
Beksinski' s work make you think. He combined beauty, horror and human fears to create something that captivates our attention and mind. The hairs on my neck went straight before I reached the end of the first page, yet I continued to the end of the list(as many of the other pandas did for sure) because there's something about these pictures' dark style that make you wish to see more no matter how terrified you are.
Jerie Ragsac 7 years ago
Beksinski was an amazing artist. He channeled his emotions through his work like depression, paranoia, fear.. Strangely, I was first introduced to his works in my Psychology class back in college and not in Humanities (which is like Art Class here), lol. Wasnt he already featured in BoredPanda before? (I remembered because I soft copied all the paintings featured)
Michel M. Prins 7 years ago
Zdzisław Beksiński was a very interesting artist and I think he was an amazing influence to other artists. But it's always sad to realize that he had to deal with so many tragic parts in his life. Even though many said he was a kind and loving person. His works aged very well and, in my opinion, are timeless. And the thing is, I'm not even a fan of post-apocalyptic and/or nightmare artworks, but they always look incredibly stunning! Mister Beksiński did an incredible job on these works!
Lucky Lambdin 7 years ago
If Beksinski wants to re-torture himself with such unpleasant imagery, guess that's up to him. Me, have similar dreams, but do my best to leave them behind & forget them.
Migdalis Gonzalez 7 years ago
I think he visits every night Dante's World... but maybe are realitys of our worst nightmare's in parallels dimensions.
Robert L. Hudson 7 years ago
I could come close to painting one of those than dreaming it!
Load More Replies... Barbara Gaweł 7 years ago
Beksiński painted for throw out self his thougs during his ilness( he had schizophrenia and he knew it) I'm fascinated his paining very early because my father's family home are in Sanok. I remeber as one day touched his stone paint because i couldn't belive this was only paint...I very recommend to see his pieces of art which are available in old castle in Sanok! P6160039-5...b9f8f7.jpg
Dżoana Kałuża 7 years ago
There are galleries in Krakow and Sanok- if you ever visit Poland (which I highly recommend :) ). If you are realy lucky, there can be an exhibition in other city like Warsaw. Once there was even Virtual Reality show. Just imagine a stroll in a world made of his paintings... or Dali's, or other painters. Great idea!
Camille Bequette Salls 7 years ago
I think these are beautiful, and also creepy. It takes a true artist to create something that truly gets under someones skin and makes them feel fear, and emotion.
Phil McConnochie 4 years ago
I've seen the one where hes walking through the tall cliffs number 8. i like that one.
Nour Dabbabi 7 years ago
half of the people in their comments are saying either this is scaring them , or he needs to get helps x) but i don't think so , this guy is a genius , he has a perfect memory and he draws with precision , he not only artistically genius , he's a prodigy and his brain is a treasure , he should be appreciated and applauded for the work he's doing , what he paints and the ways he paints it is so unique , so unique that no one actually did this before , i love his work and i would love to see more. It's so amazing and breath taking , his dreams are so mystical and beautiful even if they're dark , but then again , darkness is what makes an artist who he truly is.
Stephanie Merryman 7 years ago
It gave me goosebumps but i enjoyed his style, its different. I think if i was able to share some of my dreams er-nightmares, hed be the only one to capture them with the horror they are...
Shiva Dheva 7 years ago
Thank you very much for posting these. I got so impressed that I decided to book a trip and visit the exhibition in Sanok.
David Grant 7 years ago
what kind of dreams does this guy have to get inspired for his paintings?
Magnus Eckhoff 7 years ago
https://www.facebook.com/lixpen/videos/827586164060587/ https://truththeory.com/2017/04/27/polish-painter-learned-photograph-dreams-works-will-give-nightmares/ Exact same articles?
Christine McCosmoes 7 years ago
I wonder if he is channeling images that are in the collective Mind of the Polish zeitgeist. If these aren't products of his own consciousness operating at a deep level, then perhaps his vision is penetrating deeper than his own mind?
Robert L. Hudson 7 years ago
Is anyone familiar with Count Alfred Habdank Skarbek Korzybski ([kɔˈʐɨpski]; July 3, 1879 – March 1, 1950)? This is Wiki's first paragraph on him but I see some connection between him and Beksinski or at least how looking at what Korzybski says about human thought would be helpful in trying to understand Beksinski: (He) was a Polish-American independent scholar who developed a field called general semantics, which he viewed as both distinct from, and more encompassing than, the field of semantics. He argued that human knowledge of the world is limited both by the human nervous system and the languages humans have developed, and thus no one can have direct access to reality, given that the most we can know is that which is filtered through the brain's responses to reality. His best known dictum is "The map is not the territory".
Robert L. Hudson 7 years ago
I didn't see any references to Hieronymus Bosch. These are further down that same road (less traveled) but given that Bosch painted 500 years ago he is still the winner of whatever we shall call this award. Perhaps we could say that Zdzislaw Beksinski is last century's winner of the Hieronymus Bosch award.
Samia Akhtar 7 years ago
Dint evoke much except a little gloom...yes we all have skills in our head which appear once the skin and flesh decompose. .move on feed the poor
Robert L. Hudson 7 years ago
Were they going for irony to have ONE of those require extra acknowledgement of maturity (based on the flimsiest of criteria, age)?
MOON SORCERESS 7 years ago
if these were when he was sleeping this was in the void and not just dreams .. but i see a theme.. the void doesn't have a theme it is random.. and hell like you never know what u will see there , no plot , no reason..
Magdalena Kucharska 7 years ago
It's sad that this truly talented artist died in...a robery. 2 guys broke to his house, killed him and stole...about 100 dollars and vhs player. Sounds like a joke but it's true :-(
Rolando Lios Carballo 7 years ago
Con tanta belleza que existe a nuestro alrededor, pienso que hay que estar un poco mal espiritual y mentalmente para realizar este tipo de pintura.
Alexander Boldizar 7 years ago
If you click through these, they're all the stuff of nightmares. All is fine, until you get to image #32, which you need to click that you're over 18 to view. Click, and shock, the image shows boobs. How ridiculous can our society get?
rick hctep (Rick45) 7 years ago
I think this Polish painter needs to leave that Polish spirit alone for a while.
Jordan Westphal 7 years ago
From software made blood borne and the dark souls games correct? I think I would be into something of that nature but I'm not going to buy a game I have no input on. They any good
Load More Replies... Edyta Złotucha 7 years ago
I still remember when I first saw an album with his paintings in the local bookstore as a young child, love him since then.
Chris Panuccio 7 years ago
It's already in the article haha (wouldn't let me change my comment)
Load More Replies... Chuck López 7 years ago
Where are these "everyday objects" you mentioned the artist used on his paintings?
Dżoana Kałuża 7 years ago
Car, mirror, train (?) carriage- I know of these
Load More Replies... Anna Salerno 7 years ago
OMGosh most of his work shown here is beyond horrifying to me. This man must have been tortured when he slept. To actually experience visions like these is downright anguish for the normal person to even imagine!
Chuck Anderson 7 years ago
This work is truly spectacular. H.R. Geiger had visions on this scale. I too had nightmares that reflected the feelings that I get when contemplating this art, that is until I stopped believing is religion.
Luke Prior 7 years ago
#24 is what I imagine a mistwairth from the mistborn series to look like.
Dżoana Kałuża 7 years ago
You can also try gallery in Sanok. There you can find it online: http://beksinski.dmochowskigallery.net/galeria_past.php?lang=e
Load More Replies... lemontzz aide 7 years ago
Beksinski didn't scare me ;) I am deeply saddened though. While this is great for the viewer, it is different for the one who experiences this life - the one who HAD TO LIVE with it. It was a life dealt to him - so young. I love them tho - ALL the pieces, although saddened. How could one look at any of these & not be affected? Wonderful, tragic works.
brandon sat 7 years ago
a lot of these remind me of stuff that would be in the hellraiser movies.
boredhuman 7 years ago
Elon Musk is planning to connect the brain to a computer in the next 5 years. I hope he can pull this of because it would be amazing to "capture" dreams and then play it somehow.
Daria B 7 years ago
These are great, but they're not my nightmares... They look more... Realistic than that... Less confusing, more vivid, more colourful, and sometimes they're in black and white.
Daria B 7 years ago
Now the title is better. Thank you, Bored Panda administrators, for listening to our opinions. ♥
Load More Replies... You May Like 44 Famous Still-Life Paintings That Convey The Beauty Of Everyday Objects 48 Famous Watercolor Paintings By The Masters Of The Medium 51 Famous Paintings That Were Stolen, And Some Of Them Are Still Missing
Aivaras Kaziukonis
Larysa Perih
Natallia Pisarenka
Related on Bored Panda
