Summary
Among the many tropes andtraditions that have definedResident Evilfor nearly thirty years, one of the most fascinating ones has been the commitment to featuring prominent and gorgeous pieces of artwork to litter the world. Sinister environments fromResident Evil, such as the Spencer Mansion and the Raccoon City Police Department, have become iconic locations in gaming, and many of them have also featured some absolutely spectacular paintings.
Some of them have been purely decorative, designed to enhance the aesthetic of the world or create a symbolic connection to the protagonist, while others have figured into some of the games' most intriguing puzzles. These works of art have been a major part of the franchise since it debuted in 1996, adorning the creeping hallways and walls of the franchise’s numerous locales. Capcom always puts a ton of effort into both the large and small details, making sure that these haunting works of art stick with the player well after they’ve survived the hordes of zombies and horrific Umbrella creations.
As Claire and Leon explore the crumbling Raccoon City Police Department during the events ofResident Evil 2 Remake, they come to discover its origins as a museum, explaining the numerous pieces of incredible artwork that litter the disintegrating hallways of the building. And one particular piece stands out, as the duo find it in the Art Room, which is located on the second floor, hidden behind some boxes piled up against the wall. Situated neatly behind the boxes is a painting that features a young girl peering behind the shadows, and it can be easily missed during a playthrough, as the Art Room is a rather small excursion that isn’t revisited later.
The painting is dark and moody, as the girl ominously stares over the boxes, casting a surreal energy in the room. The girl herself could represent Sherry Birkin, the wayward daughter of scientists William and Annette, as she’s dressed in a similar outfit and is neglected behind the boxes. Either way, this haunting piece of art is one of the best paintings inResident Evil 2 Remake, a stark reminder of the strange sort of place that the RCPD was back when it was a museum.
After Sherry Birkin is abducted by Brian Irons, the twisted chief of the Raccoon City Police Department,Claire finds herself exploringpreviously unseen areas of the building. And, it’s in the Private Collection Room, located right next to Irons' office, where she can find one of the most fascinating paintings in the game. Upon close inspection, the painting appears to act as a symbol of the complicated relationship between Sherry, her mother Annette, and Claire.
The painting is a real one, known as The Toilette of Venus, and was done by Francois Boucher. Its inclusion inResident Evil 2 Remakeis a fascinating one, as it could be seen as a way to represent the dysfunctional relationship between Sherry and Annette, as the children floating around Venus are willfully ignored in a similar manner. The color red features prominently, as well, guiding the children in the same way that Claire does with Sherry. It is a magnificent work of art that ties in brilliantly to the themes of Claire’s campaign, as femininity and the fragility of motherhood are front and center.
Resident Evil Zeroremains one of themost fascinating games in the franchise, as the journey of S.T.A.R.S. rookie Rebecca Chambers, alongside escaped convict Billy Coen, takes them from the confined corridors of an Umbrella-operated train known as the Ecliptic Express to a training facility infested with zombies and monsters. And as the pair make their way through the facility, they find a truly compelling piece of art in the cafeteria, one that seems to mirror the harrowing adventure that they find themselves on.
The painting is situated over a dead zombie, depicting a violent war between ancient soldiers. It’s made even more poignant by the zombie lying dead below it, as his positioning is similar to that of the fallen men in the painting. Its symbolic representation of an ongoing, seemingly never-ending cycle of destruction and violence is made real with the dead zombie below, adding a sense of gravitas to a game already rich in subtext and operatic musings.
The heroes ofResident Evilfirst encountered the mythic Spencer Mansion back on the PS1 in 1996, but when Capcom decided to remake thetitle for the GameCube in 2002, they upgraded all the pre-rendered backgrounds and improved on many aspects of the original. And, one of the benefits of the upgraded visuals was the ability for Capcom to include higher resolution, more dynamic paintings to populate the walls of the Spencer Mansion.
What was originally a stained-glass window at the top of the steps in the Entrance Hall became an absolutely gorgeous work of art, a tall painting that doubles as a door to the cemetery, a brand-new area for the remake. A pair of robed figures stand praying, perhaps each of them representing the duality of Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield, the two playable protagonists ofResident Evil 1. The player must pass through both of them on the way to a cemetery, so perhaps it also represents Jill and Chris' souls being prayed over as they both enter the land of the dead.
One of the first areas visited after their arrivalin the dreaded Spencer Mansion, the Dining Hall is home to one of the best paintings in the series and one that keenly ties into the puzzle with the grandfather clock next to it. Featuring two feuding swordsmen who have run each other through with their blades, this incredible painting is both a striking piece of art and a clue to the puzzle needed to open the clock and grab the Shield Key.
The puzzle reads, “When the two have run each other through, the path to your destiny will open,” which is reflected perfectly in the painting next to the clock. The painting could also be seen to represent Barry Burton, who turns traitor during the game due to being blackmailed by the duplicitous Albert Wesker, as neither swordsman seems to be coming out of the conflict looking too well. It’s one of the franchise’s most incredible paintings, as it ties in both with the lore and is a key part of the game design as well.
