Common Faces.

All over the world people have heard of Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and YaYoi Kusama. How much do they actually know about them though? Would Van Gogh be as famous as he is today without the fogginess of psychological disorders surrounding his life? Would Pablo Picasso have made the same impact on the modern art world without the severe depression that he carried around? Would YaYoi Kusama have changed the views of Japanese woman in art without the self diagnosis of neurosis? These questions are commonly asked about famous artists.

It's no secret that Vincent Van Gogh isn't the only one with mental disorders in his family. His sister Wilhelmina developed schizophrenia shortly after Vincent passed, and was issued at the age of 35 in a psychiatric ward, she died in the asylum at the age of 79. Cornelis, his youngest brother, enlisted as a volunteer for the Boer army and may have died in war, or committed suicide. Theo, his closest brother, passed 6 months after Vincent killed himself. His father dropped dead at his door step spontaneously after a walk. His mother, who seemed to be the only calm undisturbed person in his intermediate family lived to the age of 87 and outlived her husband and all 3 of her sons.

Although, no one can 100% prove that Van Gogh had epilepsy and depression, the reoccurring studies have shown that it is highly possible. He's also been diagnosed with dysphoria, euphoria, and bipolar as well. Not only did the man kill himself at the age of 37, he is also known for amputating his own ear. After arriving in Arles, Vincent wrote; "I was surely about to suffer a stroke when I left Paris. It affected me when I had stopped drinking and smoking so much, and as I began to think instead of knocking the thoughts from my head. Good heavens, what despair and how much fatigue I felt at that time." Van Gogh had an addiction to absinthe and cognac. For the last 2 years Van Gogh suffered from horrific hallucinations and was considered a threat to the public. He was constantly thrown out of bars, and avoided in the public scene. His art wasn't appreciated until after his death, and people laughed at his work. His dedication was to be a perfectionist in his art, to get every line and curve to be right, to perfect the contour; all in the while of using bold colors and angst brushwork. He now has many art museums dedicated to himself. Before he passed he quoted "My only anxiety is, how can I be of use in the world?", it's safe to say that he accomplished that dream.

Pablo Picasso's clinical depression took over his art. He didn't have any other mental disorders, but showed his depression through his art. He drew portraits of sad woman, as well as portraits of depressed woman. Yes, there is a huge difference. You can be sad about losing a cat, but 6 months to a year later, you would most likely be moved onto a new cat. People that hold onto things, can't let things go, are people with depression.  One of his most successful paintings, as well as my personal favorite, "The Old Guitarist", was painted after the suicide of his close friend Casagemas. He often did portraits of his lover, Dora Maar.



YaYoi Kusama is also a fascinating person. She is known as a post WWII artist. The Japanese artist at the age of 84 still lives today and still produces art. At the age of 9 she self diagnosed herself with neurosis; she uses art to help with her condition of seeing visions. Her first vision, the vision that sparked her career, was of her and a table. The table had a vase of flowers on it, she envisioned that the flowers started spreading onto the walls. She felt obliterated with visions at the age of 10. Kusama also had a strong aggressive mother, and having issues with her mother caused her to see dots. Which is why Kusama expressess dots in all of her paintings and even her attire consists of dots. Kusama came from an upper-class Japanese family, who wanted her to become an art collector instead of an artist. Her mother always told her that men produced the art and woman were the ones to collect it. She was a very lonely and isolated person, and that's when she befriended Andy Warhol, who is a famous pop art artist. She has said that she paints the visions that only she can see, and has quoted, "If it weren't for art, I would of killed myself a long time ago" - Kusama. She is also featured in several museums and has one dedicated to her.

Now you're probably confused, why am I talking about these artists? I consider these artists good examples of using art as therapy. I also used Vincent Van Gogh as a great example, even though he didn't live for too long, he still completed what he wanted to do with his life. Think about it, he wanted to change the world and he did. He is one of the most famous artists to exist, everyone has seen his Starry Night painting. His painting, Starry Night, has been in children novels, remade to fit into TV shows, and highly recognized anywhere. He was a mad man with a dream and art made it happen. Both, Picasso and Kusama, have admitted that art has saved there lives. Picasso died at 91, and Kusama is still alive at 87, doesn't that say something about art? It's easier now, we don't have to be big artists to use art therapy, but we can ensure that it works, and it is known as the most useful form of therapy. Its's easier for us in today's times to get help and treat our needs.


 Blumer, Dietrich, M.D. "The Illness of Vincent Van Gogh." The American Journal of Psychiatry. Am J Psychiatry, n.d. Web. 27 June 2013.

This covers the biography of Vincent Van Gogh, what he goes through, and all of his disorders.

"Famous Artists Who Suffered from Mental Illness (Psychology Meets Art 1)." Psychundergrad. N.p., 18 Apr. 2012. Web. 28 July 2013.

Hansard, Glen. "Art Therapy: A Documentary." YouTube. YouTube, 08 Oct. 2012. Web. 02 July 2013. This YouTube documentary displayed a handful of students who talked about their journey through art therapy. I also got to learn a bit about the brain. This documentary is also what led me to the fabulous book by Louis Cozolin

Ryan, Dennis. "Mental Illness Can Help Create Great Art, No?" Mental Illness Can Help Create Great Art, No? Blogger, 7 June 2007. Web. 28 July 2013.

"StayOnTop: Depression." StayOnTop Depression. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 July 2013.

This site covers Pablo Picasso, and his mental health.