Arnold Bocklin
Arnold Bocklin is most well known for his painting “The Isle of the Dead” (above), of which there are several versions. This painting is a macabre classic, with considerable influential effects, not the least of which was inspiring Val Lewton’s haunting film The Isle of the Dead (1945).
While Bocklin was widely popular during his life and afterwards, art historians have come to view most of his work with disdain. I agree, since much of what Bocklin painted were the fleshy nymphs and satyrs that were common soft core porn for the Victorian Era.
But he did render a few pieces besides Isle of the Dead which strayed from what paid the rent. This includes Wojna and Plague (below). Bocklin was one of the last of the Romantics, which manifested itself at its worst with his overripe mythological paintings. But these two paintings seem much more modern and could be considered early examples of German Expressionism. Here the figures thrust out at the viewer, jolting and angular rather than lush and soothing. They almost hearken back to the works of Bosch or Bruegel.
