Just because you are going out on the town, doesn’t mean you have to be reckless – make sure you bring your gas mask and a comfortable pair of shoes.

Source: “Woman in gas mask during World War II” (1940) by Unknown – State Library Victoria Collections, CC BY 2.0.

If you are like me, and have a love for creepy art pieces, then it has probably led you to lots of imagery with titles or descriptions including the words “Triumph of Death”.

“Triumph of Death” refers to a section of a 14th Century poem called “Triumphs” by Francis Petrarch. And since I wanted to share this image anyway, I figured I could include a few lines.

How near you are your end; behold, I am...

Millions of dead heap'd on th' adjacent plain;
No verse nor prose may comprehend the slain

As in those trifling follies not to trust;
And if they be deceived, in end 'tis just:

Ah! more than blind, what gain you by your toil?
You must return once to your mother's soil

How many moaning plaints, what store of cries
Were utter'd there, when Fate shut those fair eyes

For which so oft I sung; whose beauty burn'd
My tortured heart so long; while others mourn'd

By force extinguish'd, but as lights decay,
And undiscerned waste themselves away

If you would like to read the poem in full, check out “The Sonnets, Triumphs, and Other Poems of Petrarch” for free via Project Gutenberg. That is where I got these lines from.

Image Source: “Illustration of Petrarch’s Triumph of Death” (16th Century) by Unknown – Bibliothèque nationale de France, public domain.

This is a stereograph still life of dried plants. The ghostly flowers fit very well with the “Beautiful in Death” caption. The dried plants are sure to be dust by now – leaving just the creepy words without context.

Source: “Still life with dried plants” (1858) by William England – Rijksmuseum, public domain.

“On the left, a young woman with a porcelain skin presents herself to the viewer in her dazzling youth, sporting sensual curves emphasized by a drapery in bronze tones. On the right, the idealized body, eaten by insects, decomposes to reveal only the entrails and skeleton.” – Source.

Vanity is a never-ending battle to maintain a type of beauty that never lasts.

This is too dark! Um, look! There is an hourglass, those are pretty cool, right? Ahh, that’s better.

Source: “Vanity” (1630) by Jacques Stella, public domain.

“She tore the azure robe of the night…” – Caption

When I found this photo, I wanted to share it simply because it was a beautiful display of old fireworks. Unfortunately, it has a dark story behind it.

It was in celebration of the Louisiana Purchase, which led to the displacement and suffering of Native American tribes and the spread of slavery. That is why I am adding it to the “creepy” section.

“She tore the azure…” (1904) by L. C. Wasson. Library of Congress, public domain.

You might have mistaken this sweet old lady for a witch because of her sinister smile and flying ability. Well, she’s not a witch! She’s actually a demon disguised as an old lady. Remember, don’t judge a book by its cover.

Source: “Demon in the apparition of an old woman…” (1889) by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi. Rijksmuseum, public domain.

This spooky dog’s favorite holiday is ironically Valentine’s Day—but we all know he was made for Halloween! Don’t let the lack of muscle and skin fool you; he’s very happy and adorable. He does get tempted to chew his own bones sometimes, but hey, we all have our flaws.

Sources: All the images are by Christiaan Kramm, made in 1818. Credit to Rijksmuseum, public domain. Front, back, side.

All of these spooky images are by William Hope, someone who considered themselves a paranormal investigator. For a true believer of spiritualism, he sure loved faking spirit photographs. Double exposure can give some eerie results, I’ll give him that.

“Mourning Scene” (1920) by William Hope. National Science and Media Museum, public domain.

“Couple with a female spirit” (1920) by William Hope. National Science and Media Museum, public domain.

“A séance” (1920) by William Hope. National Science and Media Museum, public domain.

Photographs from the 1890s by Eugène Atget reminded me of the ‘backrooms’. Inspired by these images, I created a story to capture the eerie essence. Could you escape the Backalleys?