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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.
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#8
Lore Leaha 7 years ago
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
#11
Jessica McGee 7 years ago
Beautiful. There are no words that could describe the feeling this gives me.
#16
Richard Pickman 7 years ago
Sex? This is more like gas chamber in concentration camp during the WW II.
#18
Dragon Abode 7 years ago
I think it's safe to say at this point that... Even if his work is good... He needs to get some help
#19
#26
Dee Bernath 7 years ago
This adds a really creepy dimension to the Graves opening up an souls going up into heaven.
#27
#28
Joseph Ryan 7 years ago
This is the face referenced in the Beatles tune, "Eleanor Rigby." "Wearing the face she keeps in a jar by the door."
#37
#45
#46
#48
Muhammad Ibn-Raqib 7 years ago
I love how with each painting you think you can try and figure out what is going on. But it's painted with a way to where you truly can never understand it. And are completely lost, test dumbfounded and put in a state of thought that's as eerie as any nightmarish dream you've ever experienced. He conveys so much essence of a nightmare. How does he do this?! I want to meet this guy!
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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.
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.
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.
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.
Chuck López 7 years ago
Where are these "everyday objects" you mentioned the artist used on his paintings?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Chuck López 7 years ago
Where are these "everyday objects" you mentioned the artist used on his paintings?
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.
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.
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