The Crying Boy
Mass-produced print linked to a fire curse urban legend.
The Crying Boy is a mass-produced print of a painting by Italian painter Bruno Amarillo, who used the pen name Giovanni Bragolin (1911–1981). Widely distributed from the 1950s onwards, the image became a popular decorative item in British homes. Its fame grew beyond art due to an urban legend that attributed a curse to the painting, linking it to house fires.
- born
- 1911
- died
- 1981
- field
- Painting
- nationality
- Italian
- known_for
- Mass-produced print 'The Crying Boy' and associated curse legend
Lore & Background
The Crying Boy is a print of a painting by Italian painter Bruno Amarillo, whose pen name was Giovanni Bragolin (1911–1981). It was widely distributed from the 1950s onwards. Numerous alternative versions exist, all portraits of tearful young boys or girls. In addition to being widely known, certain urban legends attribute a 'curse' to the painting.
On 5 September 1985, the British tabloid newspaper The Sun reported that an Essex firefighter claimed that undamaged copies of the painting were frequently found amidst the ruins of burned houses. By the end of November, belief in the painting's curse was widespread enough that The Sun was organising mass bonfires of the paintings, sent in by readers.
Steve Punt, a British writer and comedian, investigated the curse in an episode of the BBC Radio 4 production called Punt PI, first aired on 9 October 2010. The conclusion reached by the programme, following testing at the Building Research Establishment, is that the prints were treated with a varnish containing fire retardant, and that the string holding the painting to the wall would be the first part to deteriorate, resulting in the painting landing face down on the floor and being undamaged by the fire.
Reader's Guide
The Crying Boy holds significance as a cultural artifact that bridges popular art and folklore. Its mass production and distribution from the 1950s made it a common household item, but its legacy is dominated by the curse legend that emerged in the 1980s. The Sun newspaper's coverage in 1985 amplified the belief, leading to organized bonfires of the prints. The investigation by Steve Punt on BBC Radio 4's Punt PI provided a rational explanation: the prints were treated with a fire-retardant varnish, and the deteriorating string caused the painting to fall face down, protecting it from fire damage. This explanation, however, did not fully dispel the myth. The legend was further embellished in a 2000 book by Tom Slemen, which linked the child to fires and the painter's studio, though investigative journalist David Clarke stated there is 'absolutely no truth whatsoever to any of that.' The Crying Boy remains a notable example of how an ordinary object can become the focus of supernatural belief, and its story illustrates the interplay between media, urban legend, and popular culture.
Did You Know?
- The painting was mass-produced from the 1950s onwards.
- On 5 September 1985, The Sun reported an Essex firefighter's claim that undamaged copies were found in burned houses.
- Steve Punt's BBC Radio 4 investigation found the prints were treated with a fire-retardant varnish.
- Stories naming the child as Don Bonillo or Diablo did not emerge until 2000 in a book by Tom Slemen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Crying Boy?
The Crying Boy is a mass-produced print of an Italian painting that became a ubiquitous decorative item in British homes from the 1950s onward. In English folklore, it is best known not for its art but for the urban legend of a house-fire curse supposedly attached to displaying it.
What is the Crying Boy curse?
The so-called curse is an urban legend claiming that keeping the print in a home invites a fire. It has no basis in any verified supernatural tradition and is widely regarded as a modern folk tale rather than a genuine magical binding.
Who created The Crying Boy?
The original painting was made by Italian artist Bruno Amarillo, who worked under the pen name Giovanni Bragolin (1911–1981). The image was later reproduced as a cheap mass-market print and distributed widely across Britain.
Why is The Crying Boy treated as folklore rather than just a painting?
Because the print became so deeply embedded in everyday English domestic life, the fire-curse story attached to it took on the character of a shared cultural belief. It functions as a modern urban legend passed between neighbours and families, much like older folk warnings about household objects.
How did The Crying Boy become so common in English homes?
Starting in the 1950s, the print was mass-produced and sold at low cost, making it an easy decorative purchase for millions of households. Its sheer ubiquity gave the accompanying curse legend a wide audience through which to spread.
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