'Pickman's Model' by H.P. Lovecraft is a short story that revolves around the protagonist Thurber and his encounter with the artist Pickman. Thurber narrates the story to his friend Elliot, explaining how he dropped Pickman as an admired artist after witnessing his gruesome paintings. The tale takes a dark turn when Pickman invites Thurber to his secret studio in the slums of Boston, revealing his macabre and disturbing art. Lovecraft expertly weaves a narrative filled with foreboding, unease, and a sense of impending horror, culminating in a shocking revelation that challenges the boundaries of sanity and artistry.

Characters:

The characters are vividly drawn, including an art lover, a horrifying artist, and a friend who serves as a sounding board for the protagonist's fears.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by elaborate descriptions that evoke horror and a sense of dread, pulling readers into a darkly imaginative world.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative unfolds as a frame story revealing the unsettling relationship between art and madness through the lens of an artist's horrifying creations.

Setting:

The setting plays a crucial role, depicting a dark, unsettling Boston that encapsulates the story's themes of horror and artistic madness.

Pacing:

The story's pacing is deliberately slow, enhancing the foreboding atmosphere before culminating in a chilling climax.

You needn’t think I’m crazy, Eliot—plenty of others have queerer prejudices than this. Why don’t you laugh at Oliver’s grandfather, who won’t ride in a motor? If I don’t like that damned subway, it’s ...

Notes:

Pickman's Model is a short story written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1926.

The story revolves around an artist named Pickman who paints gruesome and horrific art.

The narrator, Thurber, describes Pickman's art as 'daemoniac portraiture' that is often not completely human.

Pickman's paintings have a 'rubberiness' to them, creating a disturbing visual.

Thurber refers to Pickman's art as a reflection of madness, linking creativity to insanity.

Set in the slums of Boston's North End, the story's location adds to the eerie atmosphere.

Thurber experiences profound fear and unease when seeing Pickman's art in person.

The tale includes a frame story, a story within a story, to enhance its suspense.

The transformation and the horrific subjects in Pickman's paintings are hinted to come from a deeper, darker reality.

Readers are encouraged to use their imaginations to fill in the details of Pickman's grotesque creatures.

Pickman's Model has inspired other authors, leading to similar themes in modern horror.

The artist Pickman represents a departure from conventional art, indicating a deeper psychological journey into horror.

The story explores themes of the unknown, suggesting that true horror lies beyond human understanding.

It has been noted that Lovecraft's style of horror often involves the fear of human insignificance.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for Pickman's Model include graphic depictions of horror, themes of insanity, and potentially disturbing imagery associated with monstrosity.

From The Publisher:

H. P. Lovecraft was one of the greatest horror writers of all time. His seminal work appeared in the pages of legendary Weird Tales and has influenced countless writer of the macabre. This is one of those stories.

Ratings (12)

Incredible (2)
Loved It (6)
Liked It (3)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (20):

Read It (14)
Want To Read (2)
Not Interested (4)

1 comment(s)

NamelessWay

Liked It

1 month

Not too bad. The style of this short story wasn't my favorite, but I was happy enough with it.

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Pickman's Model

H.P. Lovecraft