How To Paint A Nightmare

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SOURCES
"John Knowles" The Life and Writings of Henry Fuseli
archive.org/details/lifeandwr...
Andrei Pop, "Antiquity, Theatre, and the Painting of Henry Fuseli"
Susan Wolstenholme, "Gothic (Re)Visions: Writing Women as Readers"
artincontext.org/the-nightmar...
Frances Dilworth, "The Nightmare by Henry Fuseli: 3 Ways to Interpret His Most Famous Work"
www.thecollector.com/henry-fu...
Hannah Moss, "Mary Shelley’s Nightmare: Fuseli and the Aesthetics of Frankenstein"
sheffieldgothic.home.blog/pap...
MUSIC (via Epidemic Sound)
Close to Touch - Hampus Naeselius
Underwater Den - Jobii
Approaching the Signal - Trevor Kowalski
Crystal Gloom - Rand Aldo
The Clearing - Golden Anchor
Hello April - John Runefelt
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The Nerdwriter is a series of video essays about art, culture, politics, philosophy and more.

[@spiksplinter]

The real nightmare is the backpain she's gonna feel in the morning sleeping like that

[@drealynne4256]

😂😂😂😂 the best comment I've seen so far!!

[@stone2125]

🤣 👏

[@riliash]

Now you got me to look at her sleeping pose for too long and... is she floating? Or is her right side supported by something unseen? Or did Fuseli just sacrifice some realism in sleep posing for a more striking image? Cause right leg, hip and waist position seems remarkably unstable. Having said that her right arm is actually bent and maybe tensed in a way that she might just be holding the pose by bracing against the bedframe.

[@gchudasamadarshit9111]

True 😂😂

[@mzmacie]

She must be young

[@Ekusupuroshon]

That sleeping pose is the real nightmare

[@NOOBCRASTINATOR69]

😂 exactly

[@yury_vee]

To add one more thing: The Demon Mare is also connected to the phenomena of "Sleep Paralysis", which is believed (in some folklore) is caused by Mare feeding on your fear once you wake up and can not move for a while (experiencing all kind of hallucinations, because even though your are awake, your mind and body are still in dream state). I guess this theme have some more topics to discuss and I glad that more people are interested in it, even not directly sometimes. Also Project Mara video game is currently in development from very talented "Hellblade Senua's Sacrifice" devs, I hope they will bring something magnificent from storytelling perspective upon Mare and nightmares in general. P.S. I am relatively often experiencing Sleep paralysis myself, so that's why I am into it :)

[@SenseiBonaf]

I was looking for this comment, thanks for writing it ;)

[@yury_vee]

​@@SenseiBonaf You are welcome :)

[@ArfaInk]

This image is the best way to explain sleep paralysis

[@StevenSeagull123]

Sleep paralysis is pretty horrible. Experienced it a couple times

[@yury_vee]

@@StevenSeagull123 Can't agree more

[@kneerunjun]

Sorry about the lights. That was me doing a routine light check

[@matthew-jy5jp]

Well you are just as bad at timing as you are with being witty

[@MegaUtube99]

Nosferatu!

[@MarioRossiAncora]

Did you mean a routine light switch check? (cit)

[@SebastianTinajero]

I love this painting, there was a dark period in my life where I was having frequent night paralysis episodes, terrifying ones the terror was almost indescribable to someone that’s never experienced them. I remember being frustrated trying to explain to my family at the time what I was somewhat experiencing I felt alone and then I came across this painting and it was scary how accurate it was the feeling of something macabre laying on your chest holding you down not allowing you to move while terrorizing figures and sounds around you creep closer and grow louder! I showed them this painting and that connection made me feel a bit less lonely.

[@paulamsden8420]

I have them too! But I rarely if ever see anything. I just wake up and can’t move for a few seconds and think to myself “ah, not this shit again”

[@patrickdeel4283]

@@paulamsden8420 yep! The worst kind of lucid dream. It has happened to me so many times in my life, I have developed a way of dealing with it. If I feel like I am awake and cannot move, I breathe slow, deliberate, deep breaths, counting up until I wake up.

[@SebastianTinajero]

@@paulamsden8420 yeah that’s usually what the experience should simply be like! I’ve had a few like that too but that period of sleep paralysis was haunting for me. I don’t scare easy but the terrors I was experiencing made me feel so betrayed by my brain haha. And the thing with sleep paralysis is you can sometimes sort of be in a state where your awake yet asleep so I’d see my room and everything around perfectly as is but with the insane sounds and dark creepy figures creeping around.

[@SebastianTinajero]

@@patrickdeel4283 usually methods like that will usually help too when they happen to me now which rarely do. But that period of time was insane my mind was not in a good place not to mention I wasn’t getting quality of sleep since it was happening almost every other night during that period of time.

[@conald6875]

deep mate

[@ruefalls]

I'm watching this at night alone and for some reason it really freaked me out, thanks

[@Cosmoandtherobins]

thanks alfred

[@kissthesky40]

I’ve always imagined something horrible under her bed, just out of sight, reaching toward her outstretched hand. That’s every child’s nightmare. A dangling hand off the bed is a lure for the monster below us.

[@JeanPhilippeBoucher]

It's clear you had a lot of fun doing playing with the audio on this! I used to think of this painting as the "sleep paralysis painting" but I had no idea there was this much story behind the canvas!

[@kneerunjun]

Yes, I really enjoyed that aspect of this one too! Edit: the sound design

[@megamastah]

There always is - especially the great ones.

[@sencer6202]

To add one more (dark) thing: The draperies below the woman, the pink-brown one looks like internal organs and the red part is like pouring blood when you consider the pose as a dead person. And they also come from just below where the creature sits, the impact point.

[@kauros167]

I love the unrefined outline of the imp, the formless shapes in the shadows of the feet and it's back contrast sharply but spookily with the elegant white dress.

[@patrickdeel4283]

This painting is my sleep paralysis visualized. Because of this, the painting does not invoke dread or horror in me. It evokes familiarity. Like someone gets it, the understanding of someone who suffers themselves.

[@3ffynephrine615]

The voice effects is such a nice touch!

[@mikenjuki]

They made the video even more scary. Even gave me the chills.

[@lucapepito]

I personally though that it was a bit too much.

[@TheAmazingAram]

The Maere sitting on the chest reminds me of some of the paintings and drawings shown in the episode: Pickman's Model (episode 5 of Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities). It is about an art student who gradually loses control over himself and his life after seeing disturbing imagery in paintings and drawings created by one of his classmates.

[@jamesrego2724]

I feel it was one of the weaker episodes from a Lovecraftian standpoint, while a good creepy short, it used nightmarish hallucinations and maybe real or maybe not real monsters to create its scares. The paintings were cool but good Lovecraftian horror comes from the fear of the unknown which was here in the short only in its ambiguity (of whether or not the monster was real and whatever happened to the protaganist was real or the effects of the insanity caused by the paintings). i feel that the trippy second last episode's 3rd act was more Lovecraftian in its presentation and monster than this one)

[@TheAmazingAram]

@@jamesrego2724 I agree that the episode might not live up to what Lovecraftian horror is supposed to be. But I do not believe that the episode was trying to achieve this kind of horror. I know that they mention yog soggoth in some chants which is a Lovecraftian entity, but even Lovecraft himself did not always right about Lovecraftian horror. Stories like "The Picture in the House" and "Cool Air" also don't adhere to the aspects of Lovecraft's work for which he is known and loved. Yet I don't think of these as lesser stories by him. So despite referencing Lovecraft, I don't think Pickman's model is trying to be Lovecraftian horror.

[@TheAmazingAram]

@@jamesrego2724 I do agree that, when it comes to Lovecraftian Horror (as in a fear of the incomprehensible, unknown and morally ambiguous), the second to last episode indeed did it the best. Even though the sixth episode was an actual adaptation of one of his stories.

[@jamesrego2724]

@@TheAmazingAram Yes, that makes sense that this story may have come from Lovecraft but might not be the most Cosmically Horrific of the bunch, but a good horror story and well told.

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

These are my favourite!! I’m already excited to see next year’s Halloween video!

[@lukebader6861]

The fire animation at the end is stunning

[@nisalpe]

As a curiosity, in Spanish we have a similar relation to this word. In Spanish nightmare means Pesadilla, and the word itself means something heavy, pesado. It references the same idea of the demon compressing our chests while we sleep, related also to sleep paralysis.

[@JovemEverton]

Damn, in portuguese the word is "pesadelo", but I never knew of the connection to "pesado". That's cool.

[@thehopeofeden597]

We just watched one of your videos in screenwriting class today so coming home from class to a new video is exactly the way that I want to spend my Halloween.

[@dingus4138]

Always love these perspectives on art pieces. Also, the book is great. It was quite thought provoking. I definitely recommend the audiobook if you’re into those.

[@diegoaguilar7562]

what book?

[@Sharky053]

@@diegoaguilar7562 The book he mentions in the first 10 seconds of the video. Escape into Meaning.

[@Nik-dp6tb]

Hey Evan, just wanted to take a moment to say thank you for the time and effort you put into all of these. I feel like you have been very busy with your book, and im glad to see another quality video essay of yours.

[@ouroboros78]

Seeing this in Detroit a few years ago was a trip. It's displayed amongst a lot of rococo finery, so I turned a corner into a room filled with white porcelain and shiny silver and towards the end lurked this dark canvas. Such a wonderful contrast.

[@spencer1531]

"We become vulnerable to the emotional power of the experience" is brilliantly phrased

[@gavinwride3386]

Was about to be a terrible Halloween, but Nerdwriter came in clutch

[@coolmikefromcanada]

very good work on the audio here, good job making it unnerving with post processing

[@bazza5699]

Thomas Dolby used a variation on this for his 1986 film soundtrack - Gothic album cover..

[@sonuvabitch]

Used to have this painting in an encyclopedia my parents gave me as a child. It always freaked me out and also intrigued me.

[@xliquidflames]

Wow. This has always been one of my favorite paintings. Every time I look at it, I notice the obvious first. The demon, the woman, and the horse all play tug with my attention. The longer I look, though, the more I feel the need to look at those dark shadows under the bed, to the right of the demon, and to the left of the horse. I half expect to see faint glowing eyes appear in those black spaces. It's like my subconscious is telling me I need to look at into the shadows else something evil will appear there. ...and then you end the video with a fade to black except glowing eyes. Very well done, sir.

[@abracadude]

The audio design for this video was on another level

[@aboynamedAmber23]

As a person who experiences many nightmares this painting is one of my favourites! Thank you Nerdwriter for this video ❤

[@Anicius_]

Amber is such a nice name

[@awake1251]

Saved this video for the end of Halloween night. Thank you for your upload!

[@bernacarangan]

my new favorite unofficial series of yours is scary paintings with scary editing this video and the saturn devours video are now my favorites

[@javaks]

The horse was rolling its eyes and smiling like Donkey from Shrek.

[@abdallhhelles]

been waiting a notification from your channel for so long. Love the work you do!

[@duncanjones7310]

i like the subtle voice modulation underneath, nice touch

[@avedic]

I have this painting on my bedside table. It's small....just 3 square inches or so, framed. I experience sleep paralysis fairly often.....often enough that I've become QUITE familiar with the terrain of it, how it works, what to expect, etc. And I love having this painting nearby....as a touchstone. Sleep Paralysis can be TERRIFYING. I've had certain episodes that were more frightening than I suspect a conscious awake person could EVER experience in actual waking life. But....then you wake up. And flip on the light switch....to find it doesn't work! But then you wake up for REAL this time. Or do you....? ^__^ But yeah....I love this painting. Captures the vibe of sleep and dreams and the subconscious so well.

[@ponderingpeach]

I just love exploring paintings on this channel

[@MrJakewray]

I think I've had nightmares about Goya's 'Jupiter Devouring His Son'

[@jehormaeche]

For the promotion poster of his movie "Gothic", Director Ken Russell reproduced this painting.

[@ALSeth-Storyteller]

This painting always makes me feel like there're other creatures all around that are not shown. Also the mare is looking at the goblin, and the goblin is looking at us. So, we the audience, are part of the nightmare.

[@freshyfreshyfresh]

Chilling, informative, and always first and foremost, interesting. Thanks!!!

[@shambhavi_sinha]

This is possibly my favourite video from you now!

[@sieryotube]

Cool video! Really like the Caravaggio references you made.

[@noureddinejadyani5008]

great video to a great painting!

[@anteeru8110]

Should be added here that (Swiss) German just like English does have the phonological cognates Nachtmahr (= night mare, describing the mythological creature more than the bad dream, which would be Alptraum) and Mähre (mare, as in: female horse; the German word is rather archaic, though).

[@shauni83]

The maere doesn't sit on the chest though. It sits on her womb. I noticed it only today, when you put the definition next to the painting. Interesting choice. This nightmaere represents a hört and negleglet part of my soul. I try to embrace it, keep it warm, and take care of it. Very special painting. Thank you for your perspective!

[@Sirrajj]

Always so good

[@togaturtle]

incredible voice editing on this, legitimately just listening unnerves you

[@togaturtle]

@Nerdwriter1 this person is mimicking you.

[@baritony8763]

The Incubus's shadow on the curtain gives it a sense of reality and implies to me it is "not just a nightmare."

[@sivawright]

I've been following you since 2017. Though I have not always agreed with your opinions or interpretations, I've always respected them. So I was quite excited to know that you've getting a book out. Just got the ebook yesterday and more than anything, I am really happy for you man. So much love to you ♥

[@stephen_dobbins]

Book is incredible

[@k.t.5405]

min 1:20 the goblin's like : "The nightmare that is about to happen here is NONE of your fkn' business, move along now, move along..."

[@alanlawrence2954]

Spooky art... Love it.

[@GoldenEtch_]

Self Portrait, easy

[@YG-0123]

😂

[@TheRealQuester]

The movie Borgman has a clear and satisfyingly narrative reference for this painting.

[@lockedin6699]

What I get from the painting is that a nightmare is something one sees and feels simultaneously.

[@FinancialShinanigan]

My nightmare painting would be looking into the deep dark ocean...shivers

[@colbystearns5238]

Great choice for Halloween!

[@christophersuckling282]

There’s a great essay by G. Wilson Knight about evil in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The Witches (a subject Fuselli also painted) epitomise an evil that constantly resists definition and causes confusion. This seems to fit nicely with your discussion of ambiguity here.

[@frostydmbk3089]

The ambiguity between being in the nightmare or watching it and of the 'figures emerging from the frame' made me think of the part the creature emerges from the TV in The Ring, crossing over that boundary from nightmare into reality.

[@ciupenhauer]

There is a dutch supernatural thriller movie called Borgman that is inspired by this painting. One of my favourite thrillers, highly recommend

[@harrison6082]

I wonder if this painting gave anybody a nightmare

[@171QA]

Happy Halloween!

[@luke6209]

this is very much like a nightmare yet i feel like i had more nightmares from the painting of kronos eating his son

[@peixeestranho]

I really like the name of your book (also, the content must be amazing :p) wish i could it buy from brazil

[@chesterelegante7039]

oh no, now i'm up-spooked

[@n40m3h]

Your book isn’t released until July in the UK and I can’t access the ebook version either! 😢

[@Dimentio]

this dude had fun editting this haha

[@ayushsrivastava8793]

cool horror short film. Glad there were no jump scares.

[@KnivesM]

I'm here. I'm ready

[@LuigiRBG]

I love your videos amigo ✌️😎

[@gregzc9395]

reminded me very much of the hallucinations from sleep paralysis when i first saw it I used to get it all the time but only one or two occasions saw a shadow man looking over me 👀😱

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks and happy Halloween, Evan! 🎨🖌 I first became aware of this artwork when imagery from it was incorporated in Ken Russell's GOTHIC (1986). #Nerdwriter1 #TheNerdwriter #EvanPuschak #HenryFuseli #TheNightmare #TheNightmare1781

[@vilvero]

Thanks for the nightmare

[@makramtutu]

Excellent video! I could tell he had lots of fun making it. I’m not the biggest fan of the creepy delivery though to me it sounded like multiple voices speaking which I assume was the point. I don’t mind the lower creepier voice but having the effect of both at the same time takes away from the Nerdwriter1’s cadence a little bit. But it’s still a very good video!

[@thiagoXXXmarinho]

Great ending, congrats

[@g.rathbone764]

I wanna listen to escape into meaning on audible but it doesn’t seem to be there. Is it not available on audible Uk?

[@s.f432]

Please make an essay on Junji Ito's The Enigma of Amigara Fault 🙏

[@TheLaughingOut]

Did you just say "Assigning meaning is a form of control" and completely fuck up my week?

[@alyx5775]

hi please make a video on “ivan the terrible and his son ivan” i would love to see your analysis !!

[@sjattemptstodraw7937]

Hey, just wanna know if the Wolf of wall street video has been deleted? I cant find on this channel. Also, why?

[@utupp]

Please please make a video about Bones and All.

[@Golwen_]

Nice

[@EHLOVader]

Am I the only one seeing the monster's shadow in the curtain in the background?

[@we.Oz9637]

funny how you can feel the october vibe in the voice

[@AFreakingAxeCH]

Ok so Fuselie's mare in the painting can be seen as a pun?

[@pointlessaccount100]

Another banger

[@PogieJoe]

Mmm I love me a good painting dissection.

[@jey8880]

love to get a notification from you!

[@ItsDesha]

I searched for your book on Audible but it doesn't show up :(

[@mr.handsomecoffeecup2406]

What a strange coincidence, I was just watching your "the most disturbing painting" for Halloween and you upload a spooky video on today of all days.

[@ankushds7018]

Why did I decide to watch this at 3 am :((((

[@JamieSuzanne.]

This painting was purportedly hanging on the wall of a medical sleep study room for patients. What a sick sense of humor.

[@HEAVYDIAPER]

Is your book on Audible?

[@matthew-jy5jp]

Your video is the only video, I've ever been able to zoom in on while it was actually playing and I'm talking 100% zoom in.

[@THATGuy5654]

POV: Laying in the dark, experiencing sleep paralysis. You see that little guy sitting on your chest, glaring at you. _"No. Noo. Nope. No."_ The creepy horse emerges slowly from the shadows, Rising up from an impossibly low angle. _"aaaaAAAAAAAAAAA..."_

[@mitsunori222000]

Very good interpretation. The final minute or so commentary seems somewhat overblown.

[@matthew-jy5jp]

That was very helpful in seeing the details of the painting. I'm not sure if you did that on purpose, but if you did it was very helpful

[@ignaciob]

I’d love to hear your take on generative AI art!

[@GamerIsASlur]

Lmao, just wrapped up filming a short film inspired by The Nightmare. Still got big ol post production to deal with

[@brotherofAnubus]

What’s up with the video dimensions?

[@gravityvertigo13579]

That's just the Heeblie Jeeblie painting from Strong Bad's closet