“The Anguished Man” stands as one of the most infamous haunted paintings in modern history, its eerie reputation captivating paranormal enthusiasts and skeptics alike.
Owned by Sean Robinson, a resident of Cumbria, England, this unsettling oil portrait depicts a humanoid figure with a contorted, screaming face, painted in deep reds against a blue background.
The painting’s origins are shrouded in mystery, with claims that its unknown artist mixed their own blood into the paint before dying by suicide. For decades, it has been linked to disturbing phenomena, including cries, moans, shadowy figures, and physical disturbances.
Is “The Anguished Man” a legitimately haunted object, a conduit for paranormal energy, or merely a product of imagination? Whether you believe in the supernatural or lean toward rational explanations, the story of “The Anguished Man” is sure to intrigue and unsettle.
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The Anguished Man Haunted History
The history of “The Anguished Man” is steeped in tragedy, mystery, and an unsettling aura. The painting first surfaced in the early 1970s when Sean Robinson’s grandmother received it as an unwanted gift from a friend.
She quickly grew to fear it, describing it as inherently evil. According to her, the unknown artist mixed their own blood into the oil paint and died by suicide shortly after completing the work, a grim act that set the stage for its cursed reputation.
The artist’s identity and the circumstances of their death remain unknown, adding to the painting’s enigmatic allure. The use of blood in the paint suggests a morbid or ritualistic intent, possibly tying the artist’s spirit to the canvas.
Robinson’s grandmother kept the painting locked in her attic for over 25 years, from roughly 1975 to her death around 2000. She reported hearing tortured cries and moans, often at night, and seeing a shadowy figure of a man lurking in corners or shadows of her home.
These experiences were so terrifying that she rarely spoke of the painting, believing it carried a malevolent presence. Her fear was so intense that she warned her family never to display it.
When Sean Robinson inherited the painting in the summer of 2000, he initially dismissed his grandmother’s stories as superstition.
However, after bringing it into his home in Cumbria, England, he and his family began experiencing disturbing events. Doors slammed shut without explanation, strange ghostly lights flickered, and the sound of a man crying echoed from the bedroom corner.
Most alarmingly, they saw a dark, shadowy figure described as a middle-aged man with unclear features, often standing at the foot of their bed or lurking in corners. These events mirrored his grandmother’s accounts, suggesting a pattern of misfortune tied to the painting.
The painting’s notoriety grew when Robinson began sharing his experiences online. In June 2010, he uploaded videos to his YouTube channel, documenting unexplained noises like banging, scraping, and eerie cries.
One video, recorded at 3:25 a.m., captured the painting falling over and a small orb of light appearing, fueling speculation about its paranormal power. These videos garnered millions of views, drawing attention from both believers and skeptics.
Robinson’s quest to understand the painting led him to collaborate with paranormal investigators, including John Blackburn and Ian Lawman of Mysteria Paranormal. They took the painting to some of the UK’s most haunted locations, such as 35 Stonegate in York and Chillingham Castle in Northumberland.
On May 18, 2013, at Chillingham Castle, over 20 witnesses reported terrifying events during a séance. The room turned icy cold, a large dark figure appeared, and a wooden bench banged and flipped violently, believed to be caused by the castle’s resident ghost, John Sage, reacting to the painting’s foreign spirit. John Blackburn described it as the strangest experience in his career.
The painting’s dark history extends beyond the artist’s suicide. When Robinson moved it to his parents’ house, they reported similar noises, and his father fell down the stairs, though he was unhurt. This incident echoed an earlier event where Robinson’s son was reportedly pushed down the stairs in their home, also without serious injury.
These accidents, combined with the consistent reports of paranormal activity, suggest a sinister influence that follows the painting wherever it goes.
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The Anguished Man Haunting
The paranormal activity linked to “The Anguished Man” is diverse and deeply unsettling, ranging from auditory disturbances to physical interactions.
From the moment Sean Robinson brought the painting into his home in 2000, he reported hearing tortured cries and moans, often emanating from the area where the painting was stored, typically in the bedroom. Doors would open and close on their own, as if moved by an unseen force.
Disembodied footsteps echoed through the house, creating an atmosphere of dread. Most chillingly, Robinson and his family frequently saw a dark, shadowy figure described as a middle-aged man with indistinct features, often appearing at the foot of their bed or lurking in corners.
Physical interactions added a terrifying dimension to the haunting. Robinson’s wife reported feeling something stroking her hair while she lay in bed, an experience so unnerving that she refused to stay in the house with the painting. Their son was reportedly pushed down the stairs, though he escaped serious injury. These events suggest a malevolent presence capable of affecting the physical world.
Paranormal investigations have amplified these claims. On May 18, 2013, at Chillingham Castle, one of the UK’s most haunted locations, investigators from Mysteria Paranormal witnessed dramatic phenomena.
The room turned icy cold, a large dark figure materialized in the séance circle, and a heavy wooden bench banged on the floor before flipping upside-down violently. Investigators attributed this to an interaction between the painting’s spirit and John Sage, a notorious ghost at the castle known for his violent past.
Over 20 witnesses, including seasoned investigators John Blackburn and Ian Lawman, were present, with Blackburn calling it the most bizarre event of his career.
Other reported phenomena include cold spots, sudden drops in temperature, and animal distress. Robinson’s dog refused to approach the painting, growling or cowering when near it.
Some family members and visitors reported health issues, such as nosebleeds and nausea, though no scientific evidence links these to the painting. A strange mist was also observed at the top of the stairs in Robinson’s home, vanishing quickly but adding to the eerie atmosphere.
Robinson’s YouTube videos provide further evidence of the haunting. One video captured the painting falling over at 3:25 a.m., followed by a small orb of light, which some believe is a spirit manifestation.
Other recordings document banging, scraping, and rising smoke, though skeptics argue these could be staged or natural phenomena like dust particles. These consistent reports have solidified “The Anguished Man” as a focal point for paranormal intrigue, though the lack of verifiable evidence keeps the debate alive.
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The Anguished Man Curse Manifestations
Witness testimonies form the backbone of “The Anguished Man”’s haunted reputation, offering detailed accounts of its eerie influence.
| Date (Approx.) | Witness | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early 1970s–1975 | Sean Robinson’s grandmother | Her home, England | Saw dark figure in corners, heard tortured cries and moans at night |
| Summer 2000 | Sean Robinson | His home, Cumbria, England | Heard doors slamming, saw ghostly lights, heard crying from bedroom corner, saw dark figure |
| Summer 2000 | Sean Robinson’s wife | His home, Cumbria, England | Saw dark figure at bed’s foot, felt hair being stroked, refused to stay with painting |
| Summer 2000 | Sean Robinson’s son | His home, Cumbria, England | Pushed down stairs (unhurt), attributed to painting’s presence |
| Summer 2000 | Sean Robinson’s parents | Their home, England | Heard strange noises, father fell down stairs (unhurt) |
| June 2010 | Sean Robinson | His home, Cumbria, England | Recorded banging, scraping, painting falling, orb of light at 3:25 a.m. |
| May 18, 2013 | John Blackburn, Ian Lawman, 20+ witnesses | Chillingham Castle, Northumberland | Saw large dark figure, room turned icy cold, bench banged and flipped violently |
| 2010–2013 | Various (family, investigators, visitors) | Various locations (Cumbria, haunted sites) | Consistent reports of dark figure, cries, moans, physical disturbances |
Note: Exact dates for early sightings are unavailable, but they span from the early 1970s to 2013. No major updates have been reported since 2013.
Sean Robinson’s Grandmother (Before 1975)
The earliest known experiences came from Robinson’s grandmother, who owned the painting from the early 1970s until her death around 2000. She reported seeing a dark, shadowy figure of a man in her home, often lurking in corners or shadows, especially at night.
She also heard tortured cries and moans, which she believed emanated from the painting. Convinced it was evil, she locked it in her attic for over 25 years, warning her family to avoid displaying it.
Her fear was so profound that she rarely spoke of the painting, sharing her experiences only with close family members before passing away.
Sean Robinson (Summer 2000)
After inheriting the painting in the summer of 2000, Sean Robinson initially dismissed his grandmother’s warnings. However, he soon experienced disturbing phenomena in his Cumbria home. He heard doors slamming shut, saw strange ghostly lights flickering, and heard a man crying from the bedroom corner.
Most alarmingly, he saw a dark figure of a middle-aged man with unclear features, often standing at the foot of his bed or in shadowy corners.
These experiences, which began shortly after bringing the painting home, convinced him of its paranormal power. Robinson began documenting these events, sharing them online to seek answers.
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Sean Robinson’s Wife (Summer 2000)
Robinson’s wife also witnessed the painting’s eerie effects. She reported seeing the same dark, shadowy figure standing at the foot of their bed, staring at them in the dead of night.
She described feeling an unseen presence stroking her hair, an experience so terrifying that she refused to stay in the house with the painting.
Her accounts align with Robinson’s, reinforcing the consistency of the phenomena. Her fear led the family to move the painting to different locations, including Robinson’s parents’ house, in an attempt to mitigate its influence.
Sean Robinson’s Son (Summer 2000)
One of the most alarming incidents involved Robinson’s son, who was reportedly pushed down the stairs in their home shortly after the painting’s arrival in 2000.
Though he was unhurt, the event was deeply unsettling, especially as it echoed a later incident at Robinson’s parents’ house. The family attributed this to the painting’s malevolent presence, believing it capable of physical interference.
Chillingham Castle Investigation (May 18, 2013)
On May 18, 2013, Robinson collaborated with Mysteria Paranormal at Chillingham Castle in Northumberland, a location known for its violent ghostly history.
During a séance, over 20 witnesses, including investigators John Blackburn and Ian Lawman, reported seeing a large dark figure materialize in the room. The temperature dropped sharply, creating an icy atmosphere.
A heavy wooden bench began banging on the floor in response to Blackburn’s questions to the painting, then flipped upside-down violently. Investigators believed this was caused by John Sage, a resident ghost, reacting angrily to the painting’s foreign spirit.
Blackburn described the event as the most extraordinary of his career, noting the presence of multiple witnesses who corroborated the phenomena.
YouTube Video Evidence (June 2010 Onward)
Starting in June 2010, Robinson uploaded videos to his YouTube channel, capturing unexplained phenomena.
One notable video, recorded at 3:25 a.m., showed the painting falling over without any apparent cause, followed by a small orb of light appearing on camera. Other videos documented banging, scraping, and rising smoke, which Robinson attributed to the painting’s paranormal activity.
These recordings, some viewed over a million times, have fueled public fascination, though skeptics argue they could be staged or show natural phenomena like dust particles.
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Theories Behind The Anguished Man
The haunting of “The Anguished Man” has sparked numerous theories, ranging from supernatural explanations to rational skepticism.
Paranormal Perspectives
Artist’s Spirit Attached
Theory: The artist’s spirit, having mixed their blood into the paint and died by suicide, is bound to the painting, manifesting as the dark figure, cries, and physical disturbances.
Why It Fits: The use of blood suggests a ritualistic act, common in folklore for binding a soul to an object. The consistent sightings of a male figure align with the artist’s reported gender, and the cries could reflect their anguish.
Why It Doesn’t: No evidence confirms the artist’s identity or the blood-in-paint claim. The phenomena could be attributed to other causes, and the story may rely on unverified family lore.
Portal for Spirits
Theory: The painting acts as a conduit for spirits, allowing entities to manifest in its presence, explaining the variety of phenomena like shadowy figures and physical interactions.
Why It Fits: The dramatic events at Chillingham Castle, where the painting seemed to interact with resident ghosts, support this idea. The range of phenomena (noises, figures, physical events) suggests multiple entities could be involved.
Why It Doesn’t: The theory is speculative, lacking scientific backing. The phenomena could be psychological or environmental, and the castle’s reputation for hauntings may amplify perceptions.
Cursed Object
Theory: The painting is cursed, either by the artist or another entity, causing misfortune and paranormal activity for its owners.
Why It Fits: The pattern of misfortune, such as falls down stairs and health issues, aligns with cursed object lore. The grandmother’s fear and the family’s consistent experiences suggest a malevolent influence.
Why It Doesn’t: No concrete evidence links the painting to a curse. Misfortunes could be coincidental, and the lack of documented tragedies beyond the artist’s suicide weakens this theory.
Negative Energy Absorption
Theory: The painting absorbed negative energy from the artist’s troubled state or suicide, manifesting as paranormal activity.
Why It Fits: The painting’s creation during a traumatic event could imbue it with emotional energy, a concept explored in art and spiritual traditions. The consistent reports of distress align with this idea.
Why It Doesn’t: The concept of energy absorption is not scientifically verifiable. The phenomena could result from suggestion or natural causes, and the artist’s mental state is unknown.
Rational Perspectives
Hoax or Exaggeration
Theory: The story is a fabrication by Sean Robinson for attention, possibly tied to a viral marketing campaign for a planned film announced in 2016.
Why It Fits: The timing of Robinson’s YouTube videos in 2010 and the film deal in 2016 suggests a motive for publicity. The lack of verifiable evidence, such as the artist’s identity, supports skepticism.
Why It Doesn’t: Multiple witnesses, including independent investigators, reported phenomena, suggesting some experiences may be genuine. Robinson’s refusal to sell the painting counters financial motives.
Psychological Effects
Theory: The phenomena result from psychological factors like suggestion, where the painting’s reputation amplifies fear and misinterpretation of normal events.
Why It Fits: The power of suggestion is well-documented in paranormal cases. The grandmother’s stories could have primed Robinson’s family to perceive ordinary events as supernatural.
Why It Doesn’t: The consistency of reports across multiple witnesses, including those at Chillingham Castle, suggests more than just suggestion. Physical events like the bench flipping are harder to dismiss.
Natural Explanations
Theory: Noises, shadows, and orbs are due to natural causes, such as drafts, house settling, or dust particles in videos.
Why It Fits: Many reported phenomena, like doors slamming or orbs, can be explained by environmental factors. Dust or insects could create orb-like effects in low-light videos.
Why It Doesn’t: The violent bench flipping at Chillingham Castle and the consistent sightings of a specific figure are less easily explained by natural causes. Multiple witnesses add credibility.
Coincidence
Theory: Health issues and accidents, like falls down stairs, are coincidental and not linked to the painting.
Why It Fits: No scientific evidence connects the painting to physical harm. Falls and health issues are common and could occur independently.
Why It Doesn’t: The pattern of similar events across different owners and locations suggests a connection beyond mere chance, though not definitively proven.
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The Anguished Man vs Other Cursed Objects
To contextualize “The Anguished Man,” it’s useful to compare it with other reportedly haunted paintings and cursed objects.
Unlike many cursed objects, “The Anguished Man” is notable for its consistent reports of a specific shadowy figure and physical disturbances, such as objects moving or falling.
Below is a detailed table of comparable haunted or cursed items:
| Object | Artist | Year | Haunting/Curse Type | Key Effects | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Hands Resist Him | Bill Stoneham | 1972 | Figures move or leave painting | Causes blackouts, illness when viewed; children in painting reportedly move at night | On display in a gallery |
| The Crying Boy | Various artists | 1950s–1960s | Survives fires, blamed for causing them | Houses burn down, painting remains undamaged; linked to multiple fires in the 1980s | Many copies destroyed, some still exist |
| Chloe’s Portrait | Unknown | 19th century | Haunted by ghost of Chloe | Apparitions of a woman, objects moving at Myrtles Plantation | On display at Myrtles Plantation, Louisiana |
| Gacy’s Paintings | John Wayne Gacy | 1960s–1970s | Cursed by association with serial killer | Linked to unease, misfortune; some owners report disturbing dreams | Some in private collections, others destroyed |
| Werewolf Portrait | Unknown | 16th century? | Cursed, depicts a werewolf | Brings misfortune, illness to owners; eerie presence reported | Location unknown, possibly lost |
| Black Painting | Bob Dylan | 1967 | Considered evil, cursed | Causes bad luck, unease; rarely displayed due to its reputation | Privately owned by Bob Dylan, not public |
| Mi Novia | Unknown | Early 20th century | Possessed by a female spirit | Causes accidents, misfortune; figure appears in dreams | Location unknown, privately owned |
| Death and the Child | Hans Baldung Grien | 1515–1516 | Cursed, girl in painting disappears | Eyes follow viewers, rustling sounds heard; linked to unease | On display in a museum |
| Rain Woman | Unknown | Unknown | Figure follows owners | Appears in dreams with white eyes, causes distress | Privately owned, rarely displayed |
| Pogo the Clown | Unknown | 1980s? | Malicious influence | Linked to deaths, illnesses; creates oppressive atmosphere | Location unknown, possibly destroyed |
| Dybbuk Box | Unknown | Early 20th century | Possessed by a malevolent spirit | Causes nightmares, health issues, bad luck for owners | Sealed, owned by Zak Bagans |
| Annabelle Doll | Unknown | 1970s | Possessed by a demonic entity | Causes physical harm, apparitions; linked to violent incidents | Sealed in a museum by Ed and Lorraine Warren |
| Robert the Doll | Unknown | Early 20th century | Cursed, possessed by a spirit | Causes accidents, misfortune; visitors report unease, camera malfunctions | On display at Fort East Martello Museum |
“The Anguished Man” shares similarities with these objects, such as tragic backstories and reports of visual and auditory phenomena.
However, its consistent sightings of a specific male figure, physical interactions like the bench flipping, and the artist’s blood-in-paint narrative set it apart as a uniquely disturbing case.
Is The Anguished Man Curse Real?
The story of “The Anguished Man” weaves a chilling tapestry of tragedy, mystery, and alleged paranormal activity.
Its origins, tied to an artist’s blood and suicide, combined with decades of consistent reports—from tortured cries to shadowy figures—make it a standout in the realm of haunted art.
The volume of witness testimonies, including those from seasoned paranormal investigators at Chillingham Castle, suggests there may be more to this painting than mere myth.
Yet, skeptics raise valid points, citing psychological suggestion, natural explanations, or the possibility of a hoax, especially given the 2016 film deal announcement.
As of 2025, Sean Robinson keeps “The Anguished Man” locked in a secure location, refusing to sell it due to its alleged dangers. He has stated that strange events occur to those in its presence, reinforcing his belief in its paranormal power.
No recent public updates have emerged since 2013, leaving the painting’s status shrouded in mystery.
Whether it is a genuinely cursed object or a product of human fascination, “The Anguished Man” endures as one of the most haunting mysteries of our time, sparking debate and intrigue among believers and skeptics alike.
