Massimo (Blood and Black Lace, 1964)
Watercolor on 8.5 x 11 in. art paper
Created: October 19, 2025
Original and prints available — contact for availability.
Part of the 31 Days of Horror 2025 series
In Mario Bava’s Blood and Black Lace, Massimo is the masked killer haunting a world of fashion, beauty, and hidden corruption — a faceless figure gliding through crimson light and gothic elegance. This portrait captures that iconic giallo mood: the blank mask, the leather gloves, and the operatic mix of style and violence that defined an entire cinematic movement. The rich reds and velvety shadows echo the film’s vivid palette, pulling the viewer into Bava’s lush nightmare of couture and death.
Fun Facts:
Blood and Black Lace is considered one of the foundational films of the giallo genre, influencing Argento and countless slasher filmmakers that followed.
The killer’s featureless mask became a visual blueprint for future horror icons, from Italian cinema to American slashers.
Behind This Artwork:
This movie is a classic in my books — pure stylistic obsession. Painting Massimo felt like paying tribute to the elegance of giallo itself: the color, the mood, the beauty in brutality. Some films entertain you, but others shape your taste, and Blood and Black Lace is one of those milestones for me. Even if someone has never seen it, they’ve felt its influence in a dozen other horrors without realizing it.
Explore More:
This piece is part of my 31 Days of Horror watercolor series. If you love giallo, vintage murder mysteries, and painterly horror aesthetics, check out the other entries in the collection.
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