Direct link to Daenerys Targaryen's post Stipple engraving is when, Posted 8 years ago. This is followed by a formal analysis of The Nightmare painting, its subject matter, and other stylistic aspects. In The Nightmare painting, Henry Fuseli depicts a darkened interior scene where we see a woman lying on her bed, appearing to be in deep sleep or either unconscious. If this guide has been a refresher in the very best of ways, then you know you are ready for the next step of your art journey. Crosshatchingindicates more than one set of these lines laid overtop of each other at angles to model and indicate tone. Emerging from a parting in the curtain is the head of a horse with bold, featureless eyes. Take a look at our Nightmarepainting webstory here! [18] The Danish painter, Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard, whom Fuseli had met in Rome, produced his own version of The Nightmare (Danish: Mareridt) which develops on the eroticism of Fuseli's work. Nightmare before Christmas : Jack's head. And have her I, The aim of this publication is to learn from our history and culture in order to understand the dynamics of politics and improve the current state of movements for feminism, racism, and LGBTQ, Art enthusiast. Maybe Fuseli was expressing his sexual desire through this painting? It is a great artwork for students to analyze the Elements of Art. Henry Fuseli sought to escape the Neoclassicism of his forebears, moving further towards the darker themes of Romanticism. Name: Death of Marat (1793) (Marat Assassin) Artist: Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825) Medium: Oil painting on canvas. In vain to scream with quivering lips she tries, His academic training exposed him to philosophy and a wide range of literature, which would serve him well in later years. Updates? We also find a hooded figure in 'Selling of Cupids', where the young woman in the drawing recoils in horror as a hunched, hooded hag offers her a live cupid she's gripping by the wings. From images of Alice Cooper in concert to artwork of Jack Skellington, this collection is as diverse as it is unnerving. "the exact meaning and symbolism of these images remains elusive, as the artist never revealed his precise intentions. Abildgaard's painting shows two naked women asleep in the bed; it is the woman in the foreground who is experiencing the nightmare and the incubuswhich is crouched on the woman's stomach, facing her parted legshas its tail nestling between her exposed breasts. Russo, Kathleen (1990). [22], Tate Britain held an exhibition titled Gothic Nightmares: Fuseli, Blake and the Romantic Imagination between 15 February and 1 May 2006, with the Nightmare as the central exhibit. These images are ideal for adding your own brand of color and style. Direct link to old_english_wolfe's post An alternative theory tha, Posted 9 years ago. Fuseli moved to Germany and then to London and was influenced by the Enlightenment at the time. If you are analyzing a classical painting, identify the story on which the story is based. These elements and principles form the nucleus of an artist's . ^b:Web image of Giulio Romano's The Dream of Hecuba.^c:Web image of Cruikshank's satirical portrait Napoleon Dreaming in His Cell at the Military College (1814), after The Nightmare.^d:Web image of Balthus's The Room (195254). [11], Edgar Allan Poe may have evoked The Nightmare in his short story "The Fall of the House of Usher" (1839). This also included the scientist and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton and his seminal text Philosophi Naturalis Principia Mathematica (1687). It is considered sexual not because the human mind is "too sexual" or our world it corrupt or whatever nonsense others are saying. Please confirm you want to block this member. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). We need to look at various folklore, legendary, and mythological sources, where our two creature characters come from. Describe the overall mood of the painting. A detail of The Nightmare (1781) by Henry Fuseli;Henry Fuseli, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. We can also bring four additional elementscomposition, direction . He is largely considered a British artist, however, after settling in England for most of his life. Artists Network is with you every step of your art journey. Direct link to lilidialom's post Hello, my name's Liliana , Posted 8 years ago. But when he accused another theologian of illegal conduct, he was forced to flee Zurich. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('interstitial-ad');}); *Membership cannot be purchased with Gift Cards. Portrait of Johann Joachim Winckelmann (1764) by Angelica Kauffmann;Angelica Kauffmann, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Certain element are repeated yet still look and feel similar. Bolstering this claim is an unfinished portrait of a girl on the back of the painting's canvas, which may portray Landholdt. In 'Three Witches', three masculine-looking female figures emerge from a dark background, hooded and pointing with arms outstretched. The white of the bedsheet over the mattress is not as bright and fades in color as the darkness covers it. He aligned himself with Gothic themes, drawing from mythology, history, and literature, but Fuseli focused more on its darker themes. His narrator compares a painting hanging in Usher's house to a Fuseli work, and reveals that an "irrepressible tremor gradually pervaded my frame; and, at length, there sat upon my heart an incubus of utterly causeless alarm". The artwork is called "The Nightmare" by Henry Fuseli. The movement is believed to have started in Rome, which is also where Winckelmann lived. Create your account. Yet, her dream appears to take frightening, physical form in the shapes of the incubus and the horse. [13] Fuseli himself provided no commentary on his painting. Genre: History painting. The head is profusely decorated with scroll, leaf, and spiral motifs. What if you had the keys to the artistic kingdom? [21] Poe and Fuseli shared an interest in the subconscious; Fuseli is often quoted as saying, "One of the most unexplored regions of art are dreams". This painting is on the back of the canvas of Fuselis painting The Nightmare (1781);Johann Heinrich Fssli, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. He was greatly influenced by the art and artists there and met Anna Landolt whom he loved deeply, but could not marry. Anyone who touches her now commits adultery and incest! The Nightmare painting, as the title suggests, depicts a scene relevant to the dreaming state, and more specifically someone having a nightmare; the creatures we see are also related to nightmares. Is there any information about the small glass bottle on the table on the left? Coloring Pages for Adults. He soon took an interest in art history, traveling to Rome to study the work of Renaissance artist Michelangelo. Her white nightgown and fair pale skin tone act almost like a beacon of light in the dark space. Here you need to look at the art elements and the principles of design of the work. Line Strokes that show motion and connect two points. Furthermore, Fuseli also painted most of the objects and surroundings in darker shades of warmer and earthier colors like reds, browns, and soft yellows from the bedding. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Is she overcome by emotion or frightened? This is achieved when the elements of an artwork come together in a unified way. She is lying on top of a couple of bedraggled bed sheets, more specifically, an off-white sheet over the mattress and yellow and red covers. Knowles wrote that Fuselis painting was his most popular picture further stating that when it was exhibited it excited, as it naturally would, an uncommon degree of interest. In January 2023 Martin Rowson produced a cartoon, "after Fuseli (and everyone else)", for The Guardian to comment on the ethical problems of the UK Government, with a Conservative Party majority. These are considered the "building blocks" of a composition. Lines can be two- or three-dimensional, describing form or the form itself, implied, or abstract. Their relationships and interactions combine to create more complex meanings. Principles of design are concepts. To take a deeper dive, check out 7 Tools for Texture in Watercolor. Identify the elements and principles of contemporary art. Cited in support of this theory is an unfinished portrait of a girl (believed to be Landholdt) which is on the back of the canvas. Interpretations vary. The lower part of The Nightmare (1781) by Henry Fuseli;Henry Fuseli, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. It was first shown at the Royal Academy of London in 1782, where it "excited an uncommon degree of interest",[8] according to Fuseli's early biographer and friend John Knowles. In the bottom left corner of the composition there is a rounded wooden bedside table with a few items on top, for example, a book, a glass vial, what appears to be two other smaller containers with lids, and part of a mirror with a frame around it. Rhythm A principle of design that indicates movement, created by the careful placement of repeated elements in a work of art to cause a visual tempo or beat. This video will explain all of the parts that are used to create an artwork: line, value, color, space, shape, form, and texture. Iba pang mga katanungan: Art Art, 28.10.2019 17:29, Laurenjayshree Hello can you give me an idea of this poster art theme: theme: reinventing the future: advancing communities through innovation, freedom of information and skills exhibition. Last night I had her in bed with me-tossed my bedclothes hugger-mugger- wound my hot and tight-clasped hands about her-fused her body and soul together with my own-poured into her my spirit, breath, and strength. Romanticism and Gothic-inspired writers often cited Fuseli's painting as an influence on their creative work. Within the realm of the elements and principles of art, proportion is the relationship of elements in an artwork to the whole and to one another. We all have nightmares that leave us feeling terror-stricken, they can be dreadful things waking us up in the early hours of the morning. Its presence in the painting has been viewed as a visual pun on the word "nightmare" and a self-conscious reference to folklorethe horse destabilises the painting's conceit and contributes to its Gothic tone.[2]. It can enclose a volume and includes height, width, and depth. Henry Fuseli's "The Nightmare" depicts, at its center, a woman in a white gown reclining across a couch or bed. As a precursor of Romanticism, it revolted against the rational and objective nature of Neoclassicism and the Age of Reason. Learn about Henry Fuseli and The Nightmare painting. Direct link to Jeff Kelman's post Does an "incubator" that , Posted 9 years ago. He died in April 1825. I wonder if it is a reference to Laudanum, a liquid tincture of opium (was often used by women for menstrual pain, and was/is highly addictive). By comparison, Romanticism was defined by its 'anticlassical' influences and style, including its emphasis on beauty, emotion and individualism. [17], The Nightmare likely influenced Mary Shelley in a scene from her famous Gothic novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818). And have her I will."[11]. The Seven Elements of Art The Will presides not in the bower of Sleep. Art historian H. W. Janson suggests that the sleeping woman represents Landholdt and that the demon is Fuseli himself. A morbid oppression in the night resembling the pressure of weight upon the breast." Below we look at The Nightmare painting by Henry Fuseli in more detail. According to art critic Nicholas Powell, the woman's pose may derive from the Vatican Ariadne, and the style of the incubus from figures at Selinunte, an archaeological site in Sicily. "[11] The novel and Fuseli's biography share a parallel theme: just as Fuseli's incubus is infused with the artist's emotions in seeing Landholdt marry another man, Shelley's monster promises to get revenge on Victor on the night of his wedding. Start in her hands, and struggle in her feet; 3 (#99152), Dr. Elena FitzPatrick Sifford on casta paintings, Staging the Egyptian Harem for Western Eyes, The cost of war: Greece on the Ruins of Missolonghi, Early Photography: Nipce, Talbot and Muybridge. Fuseli accomplished a considerable amount during his artistic career and met many significant figures in the art, literature, and philosophical worlds. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. What Are They? A close-up of The Nightmare (1781) by Henry Fuseli;Henry Fuseli, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. All rights reserved. Around 1800, some artists, such as Fuseli, began to reject many of the elements found in neoclassical art and embraced romanticism. Wake your students up and engage them with full color artworks, easy to understand definitions, and thought-provoking higher level thinking questions. John Knowles was known as one of the early biographers of Henry Fuseli and has been widely quoted from his book The Life and Writings of Henry Fuseli (1831). Artists combine elements to add a feeling of equilibrium or stability to a work of art. We see areas of black dominating most of the composition denoting night-time as well as creating an eerie mood. Fuseli's most famous painting is 'The Nightmare, painted in 1781, which caused something of a sensation and a scandal when he first exhibited it at the Royal Academy of London in 1782. I loved the part when you talked about rhythm, haha so funny! Each of the design elements has special expressive qualities. Additional influences included gothic novels, such as Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto. This work was created in 1781 and it embodies the idea of creatures. How are the elements and principles of arts pre crafts of Luzon?. If the elements of art are your tools, the principles of art arehow you put them to work. The principles of art are scale, proportion, unity, variety, rhythm, mass, shape, space, balance, volume, perspective, and depth. He went to Germany first, then settled in England in 1764 where he embarked on a career as a writer and translator. Cite this page as: Dr. Noelle Paulson, "Henry Fuseli, Reframing Art History, a new kind of textbook, Guide to AP Art History vol. [13] One version of The Nightmare hung in the home of Fuseli's close friend and publisher Joseph Johnson, gracing his weekly dinners for London thinkers and writers. This painting reminds me of old depictions of opium dens. Fuseli's "The Nightmare" is a great example of how the artist uses his medium to explore a number of themes popular in Romanticism. With your knowledge of these, you will always be able to find the joy and excitement that can surround artand for art lovers, there is nothing more appealing than that. It serves as a modern reinterpretation of the painting, with the woman appearing completely nude, except for a pair of sunglasses. A cube, a sphere, a cylinder and a pyramid are all different forms. Rather, in the now obsolete definition of the term, a mare is an evil spirit that tortures humans while they sleep. c. This is The Nightmare painting by Henry Fuseli, which we will explore in more detail in this article. or, if you know about some other work from other person that could help me with this specific thematic, From what I've read in the past the horse was a "pun". Direct link to Elizabeth Kane's post The text says "the variou, Posted 8 years ago. Landholdt was the niece of his friend, the Swiss physiognomist Johann Kaspar Lavater. The Nightmare (1781) by Henry Fuseli;Henry Fuseli, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Fuseli went to Zurich to study, but left after a conflict with another theologian. A rough schematic of each word's evolution: The printing process used by Thomas Burke is referred to as "stipple engraving". Perfect for . Fuseli's marriage proposal met with disapproval from Landholdt's father, and in any case seems to have been unrequitedshe married a family friend soon after. This creature has been believed to either be an Incubus, an imp, or described as a goblin it certainly appears demon or goblin-like. Please note: How Much Is The Nightmare By Henry Fuseli Worth? His students included leading British Romantics, John Constable and William Blake. "The Nightmare" is perhaps a painting that asks more questions than it answers. It is now displayed at the Detroit Institute of Arts in the United States and is approximately worth $3 to $4 million. Fuseli later, in 1791, created a second version of the painting, which was oriented more vertically, the woman more elaborately rendered, and the horse more prominent. Omissions? Rhythm is created by the variety and repetition of elements in a work of art that come together to create a visual tempo or beat. According to Fuselis friend and biographer John Knowles, who saw the first drawing Fuseli made for the composition in 1781, the horse was not present in the drawing but added to the painting later. Direct link to kathryn vm's post It is considered sexual n, An alternative theory that I have entertained, is that the sleep-disturbing incubus 'sits on the chest' because there is a relationship between nightmares and sleep apnea (. The catalogue indicated the painting's influence on films such as the original Frankenstein (1931) and The Marquise of O (1976). Fuseli also included elements of edgy sexuality and violence, which along with his unusual creatures, would never have been found in neoclassical painting! Related: To start putting these elements and principles to work, download An Artists Guide to Composition. 2: Harmony I feel like its a lifeline. Fantastical and fearful, below we will provide The Nightmare analysis, starting with a brief contextual analysis, giving some background to the various influences that shaped Fuselis perceptions and beliefs. In Western art, they are generally considered to be color, tone, line, shape, space, and texture. It is now displayed at the Detroit Institute of Arts in the United States and is approximately worth $3 to $4 million. Fuseli wrote of his fantasies to Lavater in 1779; "Last night I had her in bed with metossed my bedclothes hugger-muggerwound my hot and tight-clasped hands about herfused her body and soul together with my ownpoured into her my spirit, breath and strength. There has also been wide debate about its meaning in the painting, which we will discuss further below. These elements of art and principles of design worksheets are perfect for. The text says "the various figures demonstrate Fuselis broad knowledge of art history;" how so? Haha. The Nightmare is a classic example of "sublime art" and often associated with elements of darkness, turbulence, and loudness. His use of the Elements and Principles of Art is masterful. All Rights Reserved. Direct link to Daenerys Targaryen's post she is intended to be sle, Posted 4 years ago. Master Composition with These Five Art Books. As Samuel Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language (1755) defined it, a mare or "mara, [is] a spirit that, in heathen mythology, was related to torment or to suffocate sleepers. Henry Fuseli was a prominent artist during the 18th century, he painted scenes steeped in supernatural motifs, depicting characters we find from age-old literature and mythology. Is she in pain? Unlike many of the paintings that were then popular and successful at the Royal Academy exhibitions, Fuselis. [3] Related interpretations of the painting view the incubus as a dream symbol of male libido, with the sexual act represented by the horse's intrusion through the curtain. Everything curves in around her, orbiting towards her arrival. This demon has been referred to as mara. Movement is used to create the look and feeling of action in an artwork. i also see in his skill, personal style/technique, and his use of chiaroscuro and color that he knew quite a bit about painting and about how art could move viewers (or had moved viewers in the past). There are various viewpoints around this notion and many tie to sexual violation, desire, sex, and an openness on the womans part because she is lying exposed. Her head and arms hang down the right edge of the bed as well as her blond hair hanging loose. For painters and draftsmen, form is the element of art that renders a three-dimensional form in two dimensions. Here, he taught himself how to paint under the wing of another artist, Sir Joshua Reynolds. His most famous painting is obviously, The Scream. [6] His first known painting is Joseph Interpreting the Dreams of the Butler and Baker of Pharaoh (1768), and later he produced The Shepherd's Dream (1798) inspired by John Milton's Paradise Lost, and Richard III Visited by Ghosts (1798) based on Shakespeare's play. This is supported by Fuseli's sexually overt and even pornographic private drawings (e.g., Symplegma of Man with Two Women, 177078). The latter was based upon a key moment in Macbeth, of which Fuseli painted several versions. The woman almost acts like a bridge between the real world and the dream world. Henry Fuselis original name was Johann Heinrich Fssli, and he was born in 1741 on February 7 in Zrich, Switzerland. It is by no means an in-depth explanation and it is encouraged to explore these concepts in research further as they span various fields of knowledge and disciplines. This worksheet pack covers all seven of the elements of art, including: color, shape, form, line, texture, space and value. Dutifully, Fuseli did as his father asked and became an ordained minister. In England, Fuseli met the esteemed British artist, Sir Joshua Reynolds, to whom he showed his drawings. We see how this also lights up part of the Incubus on top of the woman, emphasizing its shadow on the curtain behind it, again, creating an eerie mood. They are, namely, balance, contrast, emphasis, harmony, unity, proportion, rhythm, movement, variety, repetition/pattern, and scale. He also traveled to Italy in 1770 and stayed there for almost eight years. [citation needed] A few years earlier Fuseli had fallen for a woman named Anna Landholdt in Zrich, while travelling from Rome to London. Many believe though that this is an Incubus, which according to many mythological stories is a male demon that comes to sleeping women to have sexual intercourse. The interior is contemporary and fashionable and contains a small table on which rests a mirror, phial, and book. Portrait of Ren Descartes (c. 1649-1700) by Frans Hals;After Frans Hals, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Other pieces in this collection are nightmarish in the . In his later years, he served edited and wrote art historical texts, continued to paint, and taught. Direct link to Carol Colyer's post Does anyone else think th, Posted 8 years ago. Symmetry and asymmetry are manifestations of balance. After its first exhibition, at the 1782 Royal Academy of London, critics and patrons reacted with horrified fascination and the work became widely popular, to the extent that it was parodied in political satire and an engraved version was widely distributed. Form, 6. The Scream by Edvard Munch Art Lesson. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Style: Neoclassical art. It is not a harsh light and appears soft, could it possibly be a burning candle? The Incubus in the painting could represent Fuselis own desire for Landolt and that he is sitting on her. In the following video, artist Nancy Reyner shows how to critique and improve a painting by adding contrast and introducing opposites. (discussed in the . Contains spam, fake content or potential malware, A Beginners Guide to Drawing Facial Features, Painting Composition Tips for Beginners | How To Create Bolder Paintings, Your Painting (and Mine!) Bjorvand and Lindeman (2007), pp. The unfinished painting Portrait of a Lady by Henry Fuseli. Erect, and balances his bloated shape; Many critics believe Fuseli's "The Nightmare" is an exploration of the unconscious mind, particularly the female unconscious. b. Reynolds encouraged him and, at age 27, Fuseli shifted his career focus from translation and writing to art. These are the building blocks of art and the tools with which artists create. However, Fuseli was a learned man and he also painted subject matter tied to the literary works of William Shakespeare and John Milton. Although Fuseli began his working life as a minister, translator and writer, Fuseli began painting in his twenties. In the 20th century, the Surrealists, who dealt heavily in dreams and the subconscious, also frequently cited "The Nightmare" as an inspiration. The female figure is at the mercy of supernatural and monstrous creatures. Why has the woman fainted? For contemporary viewers, The Nightmare invoked the relationship of the incubus and the horse (mare) to nightmares. Her body is weighed down by a crouching ominous being that stares at the viewer. Related: How to Speak the Language of Color. She runs an indie press, dancing girl press & studio, and has taught writing and art workshops in college and community settings. [5] The painting incorporates a variety of imagery associated with these ideas, depicting a mare's head and a demon crouched atop the woman. The main principles that can be observed are balance, proportion, and movement. In fact, in my How to Look at Art Course . In this interpretation the sleeping woman is Landholdt, while he is the incubus. Apparently, Henry Fuseli sold The Nightmare painting for twenty guineas. i'd suggest looking into that for better information than I can offer, though. She is mine, and I am hers. They start at a point and move along, creating space as they go. Geometric forms include cubes, spheres, triangular prisms, rectangular prisms, and cones. It lets you discover the different contemporary art forms based. Explore information about Fuseli's life and ''The Nightmare'' (1781), including its style and themes. [4] Fuseli's painting has been considered representative of sublimated sexual instincts. Our Sites: WetCanvas | Southwest Art | Collector's Guide. The element of art that is two-dimensional, flat, or limited to height and width. Henry Fuseli's father, who was a painter himself, initially wanted his son to study theology and become a minister. On top of the horses head are its curly strands of hair from its mane standing up, appearing like fiery flames. [8] The engraving was underscored by a short poem by Erasmus Darwin, "Night-Mare":[9]. In a lot of ways it is the heart of an art object the form itself. This painting made its debut exhibit in 1782 at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. It is said to be a symbol of good fortune. In general, we tend to agree that there are seven formal elements of art. Always drawn to literary and theatrical subjects, Fuseli developed a special interest in illustrating Shakespeare. This could possibly be the companion creature to the Incubus. 3. If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website. Usually a shape is enclosed. In 1937, Picasso expressed his outrage against war with Guernica, his enormous mural-sized painting displayed to millions of visitors at the Paris World's Fair. He had a noticeable influence. Most of the painting dissolves into blackness and shadow in the background and at the edges of the frame. 1. sarimanok - Sarimanok is the legendary bird that has become an ubiquitous symbol of Maranao art. Henri Rousseaus, Wilfredo Prieto on Auguste Rodins sculptures, Hector Guimard, Cit entrance, Mtropolitain, Paris, Lon Bakst, Costume design for the ballet The Firebird, An Introduction to The Peredvizhniki (The Wanderers), https://smarthistory.org/henry-fuseli-the-nightmare/. It is depicted as a fowl with colorful wings and feathered tail, holding a fish on its beak or talons. Some sources also clarify that there is no similarity between the horse and nightmares, as we would assume the word mare, which is a female horse, might connect with the imagery and word nightmare. The above is a brief background on what the Age of Enlightenment was essentially about and how it influenced the arts at the time, including what some of the reactionary movements were that played a part in shaping Fuselis particular style of art. Direct link to David Alexander's post "the exact meaning and, Posted 8 years ago. Composition signifies the arrangement of the visual elements and principles of design independent of subject matter. Get the latest information and tips about everything Art with our bi-weekly newsletter, Contextual Analysis: A Brief Socio-Historical Overview, Formal Analysis: A Brief Compositional Overview, Famous Dog Paintings Explore Famous Examples of Dog Artwork, The Ugly Duchess by Quinten Massys An In-Depth Analysis, The Death of Marat by Jacques-Louis David In-Depth Analysis, Henry Fuseli (originally named Johann Heinrich Fssli), Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, Michigan. Direct link to amateur's post I've checked in the Oxfor, Posted 8 years ago. Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1893. Color, 4. The upper part shows us a nightmare world and the lower part shows us the sleeping woman, bedding and sheets, and a table not anything too dramatic. Does anyone else think the woman is not lying on a mattress, but a corpse? Marks made on a surface are known as line. At the end of this lesson, you should be able to: (CAR11/12CAP-0c -e-6) a. Evaluates contemporary art forms based on the elements and principles. But, the hills in the back of the painting use value correctly as they fade from medium blue to dark navy, which coincidentally makes them appear rounded. "Joseph Johnson: Father of the Book Trade". Additionally, some scholars have suggested that the figure of the woman separates the painting into upper and lower parts. Is it an ogre or a demon? If we go beyond the nightmarish scene, we find a whole world that Fuseli fills from his own artistic and personal interests and explorations. Some art critics believe that the painting was inspired by Germanic legends about demons who possessed people as they slept. Others believe that The Nightmare illustrates the artist's unrequited love for Anna Landholdt, a woman he met a few years before, while travelling in Europe.