They say that painting is just another way of keeping a diary. There are so many ways to express what we feel and painting is probably the toughest of all. To decipher what a person is trying to say through his paintings can often be even tougher.
Art never comes from happiness.
The best poets are alcoholics who don’t sleep and are depressed.
Nobody likes to read poems where everything’s great. We like to read poems about death, broken hearts and drugs.
The best painters killed themselves.
They couldn’t handle how their paintings were so much of an opposite of their actual life.
The best singers take drugs all the time to feel better, to forget the reality of their real messed up lives. Your mind has to be really fucked up to create art like this.
Painters, photographers, and sculptors pour their emotions into their work - and for some artists, those emotions aren't always easy. Many notable artists have committed suicide, and several did so after suffering from depression for many years. Some famous artist suicides have been debated as being cover-ups for foul play.
Who are some famous artists who committed suicide? On July 29, 1890, Vincent van Gogh died from a gunshot wound to the stomach. His death is believed to have been a suicide, as he struggled with mental illness throughout his life, but some suspect foul play. On February 25, 1970, Mark Rothko committed suicide by slitting his wrists and overdosing on antidepressants at the age of 66. Other famous artists who committed suicide include Spider Martin, Kay Sage, and Antonin Moine.
Every painting has a story. Here are famous last paintings by artists who committed suicide and their final story.
Are you surprised that so many talented artists killed themselves? Take a look at this first 15 list and get in on the conversation in the comments section.
- Vincent Van Gogh
On July 29, 1890, painter Vincent van Gogh died from a gunshot wound to the stomach. His death is believed to have been a suicide, as he struggled with mental illness throughout his life, but some suspect foul play.
Age: Died at 37 (1853-1890)
Birthplace: Zundert, Kingdom of the Netherlands.
- Mark Rothko
On February 25, 1970, painter Mark Rothko committed suicide by slitting his wrists and overdosing on antidepressants at the age of 66. He was found on the floor of his studio lying in a pool of blood, which was reminiscent of his style of work.
Age: Died at 67 (1903-1970)
Birthplace: Daugavpils, Latvia
- Diane Arbus
On July 26, 1971, photographer Diane Arbus committed suicide by slitting her wrists and overdosing on barbiturates at the age of 48. She had written, "The last supper," in her journal, which lay open on her desk.
Age: Died at 48 (1923-1971)
Birthplace: New York City, New York
- John William Godward
Painter John William Godward committed suicide on December 13, 1922, at the age of 61. Reportedly, he wrote in his suicide not that the world was not big enough for him and Pablo Picasso.
Age: Died at 61 (1861-1922)
Birthplace: Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom.
- Spider Martin
Spider Martin committed suicide in 2003. He captured photographs of the historic Selma March and other events in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.
Age: Died at 64 (1939-2003)
Birthplace: Fairfield, Alabama.
- Antonin Moine
French sculptor Antonin Moine committed suicide in 1849.
Age: Died at 53 (1796-1849)
Birthplace: Saint-Étienne, France.
- Kay Sage
On January 8, 1963, surrealist painter Kay Sage committed suicide by shooting herself in the heart at the age of 64. She had reportedly become a recluse following her husband's death in 1955, and had previously attempted suicide in 1959.
Age: Died at 65 (1898-1963)
Birthplace: Albany, New York.
- Gregory Gillespie
On April 26, 2000, Gregory Gillespie committed suicide by hanging at the age of 63. He was known for combining fantasy and realism with his striking paintings.
Age: Died at 64 (1936-2000)
Birthplace: Roselle Park, New Jersey.
- Alfred Henry Maurer
On August 4, 1932, painter Alfred Henry Maurer committed suicide at the age of 64. Although many love his work today, he did not achieve widespread success in his lifetime.
Age: Died at 64 (1868-1932)
Birthplace: New York City, New York.
- Edward Matthew Ward
On January 15, 1879, painter Edward Matthew Ward committed suicide at the age of 63. He had reportedly been suffering from depression and a painful, debilitating illness at the time of his death.
Age: Died at 63 (1816-1879)
Birthplace: Pimlico, London, United Kingdom.
- Wolfgang Paalen
On September 24, 1959, painter Wolfgang Paalen committed suicide by self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 54. He was reportedly depressed, in debt, and facing legal troubles at the time of his death.
Age: Died at 54 (1905-1959)
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria.
- Richard Gerstl
On November 4, 1908, Richard Gerstl committed suicide by hanging and stabbing at the age of 25. He was reportedly distraught over the end of a love affair.
Age: Died at 25 (1883-1908)
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria.
- Ezra Winter
On April 6, 1949, painter Ezra Winter committed suicide by shooting himself at the age of 63. His heath was in decline after he fell from scaffolding while working on a mural one month earlier.
Age: Died at 63 (1886-1949)
Birthplace: Michigan.
- Julia Acker
Julia Acker committed suicide in 1942 to avoid being captured by the Nazis. She was famous for painting street scenes and still life scenes.
Age: Died at 44 (1898-1942).
- Henri Goetz
Painter Henri Goetz committed suicide in 1989 after experiencing health and financial setbacks.
Age: Died at 80 (1909-1989)
Birthplace: New York City, New York.
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