Every form of art is, at its core, an extension of the feelings and experiences of the artist.

In some situations, this can lead to absolutely beautiful and profound pieces.

In others, it can open the doors to the darker side of the human condition.

Though there are many examples of artists using this medium to portray their inner turmoil, the one that always manages to give me chills is the story of the Black Paintings by Francisco Goya.

Goya spent most of his early life painting lighthearted murals for Spanish monarchs.

As he got older, he started to grow more jaded and cynical towards the world around him. His paintings became more twisted and dark.

Additionally, Goya would lose all of his hearing by the age of 46. During the final years of his life, he never left his private villa. After his death in 1828, it was discovered that in every room of his house, he had painted large, nightmarish scenes directly onto his walls. One of these paintings, Saturn Devouring his Son (conveniently placed in the dining room), Hhs since become fairly popular in meme and internet culture for its surreal and barbaric nature. Few people know of its dark origins though.