Since ancient times, people have been fascinated by paintings that depict stories and events, whether fictional or historical. Some of these paintings portray breathtaking natural landscapes, while others contain symbolic elements. But can a painting be associated with supernatural phenomena that have no explanation? The answer may lie in the painting The Hands Resist Him, which gained attention when it appeared on the popular auction site eBay in 2000. The owner included a surprising note, claiming that the painting was haunted and that the figures within it moved. The seller even made it a condition for the buyer to take full responsibility for any harm that might befall them as a result of purchasing and owning the painting.
The story of The Hands Resist Him began in 1972 when artist Bill Stoneham from Oakland, California, created a painting based on an old photograph of himself at the age of five. The painting was meant to show the boy looking towards the future from his perspective, while to the viewer, it portrayed a man looking into the past. Stoneham added several hands in the background as symbols of different paths that could shape his life, though he was unaware of them, hence his back was turned. Alongside the boy, he included a doll of a little girl, which he considered his guide through life. She was depicted holding a battery and some wires, symbolizing self-reliance. Behind the boy, a glass door represented a veil between reality and dreams, or perhaps even between life and death.
When Stoneham finished The Hands Resist Him, he exhibited it at an art gallery in Los Angeles in the early 1970s, where it was reviewed by an art critic. Unfortunately, the critic passed away later that same year, and soon after, the gallery owner also died. Nevertheless, the painting was eventually sold to actor John Marley, known for his role as Jack Woltz in The Godfather (the character who wakes up to find the severed head of his prized horse in his bed). Marley died in 1984 after undergoing open-heart surgery, and the painting changed hands once more. Its owner remained unknown until it resurfaced years later when a family found it discarded behind an old brewery. They took it home, but soon regretted their decision.
After just a few days, the family’s young daughter began complaining about the painting, telling her parents that the boy and the doll in the artwork were fighting. She claimed the doll frequently threatened the boy with the object in her hand. Things escalated when the girl said that the figures in the painting started stepping out of the frame to continue their fight. Her parents, dismissing it as imagination, set up a motion-activated camera to record the painting. After three days, they reviewed the footage and were shocked to see changes in the colors and shapes of the painting. The object in the doll’s hand, which had originally been a battery, now resembled a gun or some other weapon. Initially, the parents tried to rationalize the changes as lighting effects or camera angles. Nonetheless, they decided to get rid of the painting, either by burning or destroying it. In the end, they chose to sell it on eBay, adding a warning to the listing that read:
Warning: Do not bid on this painting if you are prone to stress-related illnesses or if you have a weak heart, or are unaccustomed to paranormal events. By bidding on this painting, you agree to absolve the owners of any liability related to the sale or any incidents that occur after the sale, which may be influenced by the painting’s potential supernatural abilities. By placing a bid, you acknowledge that you are bidding solely for the value of the artwork and agree to hold the sellers harmless from any consequences.
The Hands Resist Him started with a bid of $199 and sold for $1,025 to the Perception Gallery in Michigan. The gallery reached out to the artist Bill Stoneham, who was surprised by the buzz surrounding his painting, though not entirely shocked, especially given the deaths associated with the original exhibition. Stoneham noted that he put a lot of himself into the artwork and that his paintings often resonate strongly with people. Even after the painting found its new home, it continued to affect viewers, whether in person or online. Some claimed to feel ill, and a few even fainted after seeing it. Children, in particular, seemed to suffer the most, often experiencing vivid nightmares the night after viewing the painting and waking up screaming. To this day, no one knows for sure whether the painting is truly haunted or if the story was fabricated to increase its value.
