Damien Hirst

I was brought up Catholic, and I felt the power of art from a very young age - seeing the brutality of all those images of flayed apostles and tortured saints was a pretty strong introduction.

British Artist

August Strindberg

What an occupation! To sit and flay your fellow men and then offer their skins for sale and expect them to buy them.

Swedish Dramatist

Literally refers to skinning animals, often in historical or survival contexts.

Literal Meaning

Used to imply a harsh or unpleasant task necessary for a purpose, like crafting.

Harsh Reality

Used metaphorically to describe severe criticism that feels like removing someone's skin.

Metaphorical Use

Suggests the criticized person is feeling exposed or vulnerable, like having no skin.

Emotional Impact

Historically, it signifies a brutal form of punishment, not used in modern times.

Severe Punishment

Conveys the intensity of pain inflicted, it's an extreme physical suffering.

Intense Pain

Often describes the stripping away of something to reveal what's underneath, sometimes mercilessly.

Harsh Exposure

Creates a powerful image of something being laid bare or uncovered harshly.

Vivid Imagery

 During their conquests, they used siege tactics and cruel punishments for those who opposed them, including impalement and flaying. The growth of their empire was due, in part, to their strategy of deporting local populations,

Flay