The Hands Resist Him: History and Key Facts

The Hands Resist Him is a painting created by artist Bill Stoneham in 1972. It depicts a young boy and a female doll standing in front of a glass paneled door, against which many hands are pressed. According to Stoneham, the boy is based on a photograph of himself at age five. The doorway is a representation of the dividing line between the waking world and the world of fantasy and impossibilities, while the doll is a guide that will escort the boy through it. The titular hands represent alternate lives or possibilities.

The painting became the subject of an urban legend and a viral internet meme in February 2000 when it was posted for sale on eBay with a description implying that it was haunted.

Source and attribution

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