Atortured artist is astock character andstereotype who is in constant torment due to frustrations withart, other people, or the world in general. The trope is often associated withmental illness.[1]
The trope of the tortured artist is thought to have been started byPlato,[2] however in reality this may be based on a misinterpretation of Plato's analysis of artistic inspiration as a form of 'divine madness.'[3]
Creativity and mental illness have been connected over time. Some mental disorders, such asbipolar disorder andschizophrenia, have been said to have helped popular artists with their works.[2][4] One of the most known "tortured artists" isVincent van Gogh, who experts consider to have suffered frompsychosis.[5][1]
Another figure matching the description of the "tortured artist" isLudwig van Beethoven, who, after losing his hearing,[6] became increasingly reclusive and apathetic towards society.[7][8] In theHeiligenstadt Testament, Beethoven confesses his loss of hearing to his brothersNikolaus andKaspar and tells them of his inability to converse regularly anymore as well as his contemplation ofsuicide.[9] Towards the end of his life, Beethoven used conversation books[10] to interact with his friends and acquaintances.
The trope has been criticized forromanticizing mental illness, treating it as a necessary ingredient for creativity.[1] According to a study conducted at theUniversity of Southampton, artwork is perceived to be superior if the observer is told that the artist is mentally ill.[1] However, research has found that famous artists' less renowned work was produced when their mental illness was the most acute.[11]
Multiple studies have found that rates of mental illness were several times greater than average in creative professions. According to Victoria Tischler of theUniversity of West London, creative fields often have low wages and long working hours, leading to poor mental health.[12][11]