Van Gogh's extreme depression and beautiful works of art are an outlier, he's amazing because he did all of that DESPITE his brain chemistry making his life hell, not BECAUSE of it The tortured/starving artist trope is both wrong & damaging because it makes it sound that suffering is good actually - ThreadSky

kanna-banana.bsky.social • 29 days ago

Van Gogh's extreme depression and beautiful works of art are an outlier, he's amazing because he did all of that DESPITE his brain chemistry making his life hell, not BECAUSE of it

The tortured/starving artist trope is both wrong & damaging because it makes it sound that suffering is good actually

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deimosphoibus.bsky.social•28 days ago

Not to mention that he did seek treatment for his mental condition, even at that time in history

pokecrys.bsky.social•27 days ago

I visited the place where he often stayed and was treated; and they were very clear in explaining that Van Gogh painted when he was feeling better and when medicine was working, but would do absolutely nothing when in deep depressive phases...

pr0nmancer.bsky.social•28 days ago

I remember my elementary school soccer couch chanting "pain is just weakness leaving the body" while making us run relay laps. That mentality is heavily ingrained in male culture from art to exercise. A real damaging belief.

ryanthedemiboy.bsky.social•28 days ago

Didn't he do much of his work while in treatment, himself?

marcolivellidav.bsky.social•28 days ago

I know this is true because my brain chemistry making my life hell actually makes me not being able of creating art

kapuchu.bsky.social•28 days ago

I believe it was David Lynch who said something to the effect of: "Imagine the beauty he could have created, had he not suffered as he did."

santanafrommato.bsky.social•29 days ago

I always remember that David Lynch interview talking about this, specially now. Yeah, there are things like vent art and paintings made with anger, but the inherent vallue is that the artist found solace in doing that, not that they suffered for it. Depression doesn't motivate you for shit.

felvotives.bsky.social•29 days ago

exactly. everyone’s art is informed by their life experiences, but you gotta be able to actually sit down and do the art. for every Van Gogh type, there are countless others who will never be able to share the beauty in their minds because of their immediate challenges.

kanna-banana.bsky.social•29 days ago

even my darkest vent artworks are about a release of tension and a morbid type of hope for the future

kanna-banana.bsky.social•29 days ago

Artists that paint deeply emotional pieces about their demons are extremely interesting and there's a lot of value in the emotions that they evoke, but I think it's possible to paint like Beksiński without having lived through post WW2 poland for example

dragovian.bsky.social•28 days ago

"Suffering is good, actually; it builds character" say the people who have never suffered a day in their lives, as they watch others suffer for their entertainment.

snowymoth.bsky.social•28 days ago

He also did some of his most famous work while he was getting help, not when he was isolated with no one around.

reikodash.bsky.social•28 days ago

right??? like man i WISH my depression made my art better, instead depressive episodes make me not want to do art

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