Thirteen unsettling paintings explore art history's dark side

A collection of thirteen artworks explores the allure of the macabre. Vincent van Gogh's 1886 piece, 'Head of a Skeleton with a Burning Cigarette,' showcases a humorous approach. Henry Fuseli's 1781 work, 'The Nightmare,' gained fame following its display at the Royal Academy. Hieronymus Bosch’s 'The Garden of Earthly Delights' (1480-1505) presents disturbing visions of hell. In 1819, Théodore Géricault created 'Anatomical Pieces' using cadavers from a morgue. Francisco Goya's 'Saturn Devouring His Son' (1819-1823) mirrors his increasingly somber outlook. Odilon Redon's 1891 'Smiling Spider' illustrates his eerie style. Katsushika Hokusai’s 1830 painting, 'The Ghost of Kohada Koheiji,' shows a slain actor's ghost. James Ensor's 1891 'Skeletons Fighting over a Pickled Herring' may critique critics. Caravaggio's 1597 'Medusa' was commissioned by Cardinal Del Monte. Francis Bacon's 1953 'Study after Velázquez's Portrait of Innocent X' features a darker tone. Zdzisław Beksiński’s untitled 1894 piece embodies surrealist-expressionism. Alfred Kubin’s circa 1902 work, 'The Horror,' depicts dark fantasies. Andy Warhol's 1967 'Big Electric Chair' alludes to executions at Sing Sing.