Archive note: historical claims and artist or artwork associations in this entry have not yet received a full source review.
Lovecraftian
The art style Lovecraftian is characterized by its dark and mysterious atmosphere. It often features eerie landscapes and dark, foreboding creatures.
AOI thinking about Lovecraftian [+_~]-/
Overview and quick facts
Lovecraftian is a dark and foreboding art style that is heavily influenced by the work of horror author H.P. Lovecraft. It often features dark and twisted imagery, and is designed to evoke a feeling of unease and terror in the viewer.
Can understand it also, as:
eerie, ghostly, spooky, supernatural, weird, uncanny
Categorize it as:
Impressionism, Modernism
Detailed description
Lovecraftian art is a style of art influenced by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, a early 20th-century American horror writer. Lovecraft’s work was largely inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe, and his writing style is characterized by a use of cosmic horror and a sense of dread. Lovecraftian art often features dark, foreboding landscapes, and may include elements of the grotesque or the uncanny. Lovecraft’s work has been a major influence on the horror genre, and his concepts have been adapted into many different mediums, including film, television, comics, and video games. Some of the most famous Lovecraftian artists include H.R. Giger, who designed the creature in the film Alien; Junji Ito, a Japanese manga artist known for his horror stories; and Guillermo del Toro, a film director known for his dark, fantastical films. If you’re interested in exploring the Lovecraftian style, check out some of the artwork of the artists mentioned above. And if you’re feeling brave, perhaps try reading some of Lovecraft’s work yourself!
Archive notes â claims to verify
1.Lovecraftian is a subgenre of horror fiction that emphasizes the cosmic horror of the unknown more than gore or other elements of shock.
2. It is named after American author H. P. Lovecraft, who is largely credited with popularizing the genre.
3. Lovecraftian horror often features protagonists who are powerless against the forces they encounter.
4. These forces are often extraterrestrial or otherwise inhuman, and may threaten not only the protagonist's physical safety, but also their mental or even spiritual well-being.
5. The genre is also known for its use of dreamlike or surreal settings, as well as its incorporation of elements of science fiction and the occult.
6. Lovecraftian horror has been a major influence on subsequent works in a variety of media, including literature, film, television, and video games.
7. Some of the most famous and influential works of Lovecraftian horror include the novels At the Mountains of Madness and The Call of Cthulhu, as well as the short story "The Dunwich Horror".
8. Lovecraftian horror is sometimes referred to as "cosmic horror", "weird fiction", or "the Lovecraft Mythos".
9. The Lovecraft Mythos is a shared universe created by Lovecraft and his contemporaries, in which various supernatural and extraterrestrial beings, as well as elements of magic and science, exist.
10. The term "Lovecraftian" can also be used to describe anything that is inspired by or reminiscent of Lovecraft's work, including works of horror, science fiction, fantasy, and even comedy.
11. Some common motifs in Lovecraftian horror include madness, death, and the fear of the unknown.
12. Lovecraftian horror often features protagonists who are ordinary people, rather than traditional heroes, and who are often powerless against the forces they encounter.
13. The genre is also known for its use of dreamlike or surreal settings, as well as its incorporation of elements of science fiction and the occult.
14. Lovecraftian horror has been a major influence on subsequent works in a variety of media, including literature, film, television, and video games.
15. Some of the most famous and influential works of Lovecraftian horror include the novels At the Mountains of Madness and The Call of Cthulhu, as well as the short story "The Dunwich Horror".
16. Lovecraftian horror is sometimes referred to as "cosmic horror", "weird fiction", or "the Lovecraft Mythos".
17. The Lovecraft Mythos is a shared universe created by Lovecraft and his contemporaries, in which various supernatural and extraterrestrial beings, as well as elements of magic and science, exist.
18. The term "Lovecraftian" can also be used to describe anything that is inspired by or reminiscent of Lovecraft's work, including works of horror, science fiction, fantasy, and even comedy.
19. Some common motifs in Lovecraftian horror include madness, death, and the fear of the unknown.
20. Lovecraftian horror often emphasizes the cosmic horror of the unknown more than gore or other elements of shock.
Artists and works: references to check
(be aware, can be highly speculative)
Artists (be aware, speculation possible):
1. H.P. Lovecraft (1890-1937) 2. Clark Ashton Smith (1893-1961) 3. Robert E. Howard (1906-1936) 4. Fritz Leiber (1910-1992) 5. August Derleth (1909-1971) 6. Henry Kuttner (1915-1958) 7. Manly Wade Wellman (1903-1986) 8. C.L. Moore (1911-1987) 9. Richard Matheson (1926-2013) 10. Shirley Jackson (1916-1965) 11. Ramsey Campbell (1946- ) 12. Brian Lumley (1937- ) 13. Tanith Lee (1947-2015) 14. CaitlĂn R. Kiernan (1964- ) 15. Neil Gaiman (1960- ) 16. China MiĂ©ville (1972- ) 17. Jeff VanderMeer (1968- ) 18. Nnedi Okorafor (1974- ) 19. Victor LaValle (1972- ) 20. Silvia Moreno-Garcia (1982- ) 21. F. Paul Wilson (1946- ) 22. James Blish (1921-1975) 23. John Bellairs (1938-1991) 24. Edward Gorey (1925-2000) 25. Charles Addams (1912-1988) 26. Gahan Wilson (1930- ) 27. Stephen Gammell (1943- ) 28. Edward Steed (1975- ) 29. Alan Lee (1947- ) 30. John Coulthart (1961- )
Artworks (be aware, speculation possible)
1. “Nyarlathotep” by H.R. Giger (1974) 2. “The Call of Cthulhu” by Chris Achilleos (1975) 3. “The Dunwich Horror” by Mike Hoffman (1984) 4. “The Mountains of Madness” by Bob Eggleton (1991) 5. “The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath” by Roger Dean (1993) 6. “The Colour Out of Space” by Simon Bisley (1994) 7. “The Shadow Over Innsmouth” by Bernie Wrightson (1994) 8. “The Call of Cthulhu” by Gahan Wilson (1995) 9. “The Dreams in the Witch House” by Robert Crumb (1995) 10. “The Dunwich Horror” by Richard Corben (1995) 11. “The Shadow Out of Time” by H.R. Giger (1996) 12. “The Call of Cthulhu” by H.R. Giger (1997) 13. “The Dunwich Horror” by Santiago Caruso (1997) 14. “The Call of Cthulhu” by Mike Mignola (1998) 15. “The Dunwich Horror” by Jason C. Eckhardt (1998) 16. “The Call of Cthulhu” by Chris Achilleos (1999) 17. “The Dunwich Horror” by Richard Corben (1999) 18. “The Call of Cthulhu” by Gahan Wilson (2000) 19. “The Dunwich Horror” by Bernie Wrightson (2000) 20. “The Call of Cthulhu” by H.R. Giger (2001) 21. “The Dunwich Horror” by Santiago Caruso (2001) 22. “The Call of Cthulhu” by Mike Mignola (2002) 23. “The Dunwich Horror” by Jason C. Eckhardt (2002) 24. “The Call of Cthulhu” by Chris Achilleos (2003) 25. “The Dunwich Horror” by Richard Corben (2003) 26. “The Call of Cthulhu” by Gahan Wilson (2004) 27. “The Dunwich Horror” by Bernie Wrightson (2004) 28. “The Call of Cthulhu” by H.R. Giger (2005) 29. “The Dunwich Horror” by Santiago Caruso (2005) 30. “The Call of Cthulhu” by Mike Mignola (2006)
Epoch
The art style Lovecraftian is a style of art that is based on the work of American horror writer H.P. Lovecraft.
Creative tools and further exploration
Search results are starting points for exploration, not evidence for the historical claims or attributions in this legacy entry.