Cool, I came here to say the same thing. If we're thinking of the same story, it's "The Mask," here: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/8492/8492-h/8492-h.htm#THE_MASK Although it's not a typical horrific use of the trope--the mood is romantic and dreamy and there's a happy ending.
It's bothering me that I can't think of an earlier use of the "mad artist makes art that contains people" trope. There are real-life works of art with people in them--saints' reliquaries, monks in catacombs, the Buddhist monks who wanted their skulls used as drum backs after they died. But "THE STATUES ARE PEOPLE" doesn't ring a lot of bells for me, and it should, because it's so delightfully messed up.
no subject
It's bothering me that I can't think of an earlier use of the "mad artist makes art that contains people" trope. There are real-life works of art with people in them--saints' reliquaries, monks in catacombs, the Buddhist monks who wanted their skulls used as drum backs after they died. But "THE STATUES ARE PEOPLE" doesn't ring a lot of bells for me, and it should, because it's so delightfully messed up.