How Alcohol Addiction Destroyed 5 of the Most Famous and Beloved Artists in History
No one is too talented or gifted to avoid the snares of alcohol.
The following artists were one of a kind, and their art stands the test of time. If anything, they are more famous now than in their day, and the paintings they put into the world are far more valuable today than when they were first created.
Is it true that people become more creative when they drink alcohol? I sure as hell hope not.
It’s no secret that alcohol has destroyed many lives — artists or not. Let’s take a peek at several prolific artists who were addicted to the drink.
- Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh is my all-time favorite painter. We know he was plagued with depression, causing the infamous and legendary cutting off of his ear.
Vincent would spend many evenings in 19th-century Paris bars, sipping and sometimes glugging absinthe, a popular drink among the creatives of that time.
Gauguin tells how his friend, van Gogh, attempted to smash a glass over his head. Luckily, Gauguin was able to dodge the bullet. He then managed to escort van Gogh to his home, where he slept it off.
This episode was typical for van Gogh and impacted his health and relationships.
2. Henri Toulouse-Lautrec
A cohort of van Gogh’s, the two were known to hang out together and imbibe the night away. Lautrec painted a portrait of van Gogh nipping away at a glass of absinthe.
He painted prolifically for many years despite his addiction.
Lautrec also had mental health issues primarily caused by his physical disabilities, resulting from an abusive father and inbreeding in his titled family. He was short as his legs failed to develop, causing a disproportionate body.
He was bullied mercilessly by his contemporaries. He drank to bolster his self-esteem, favoring absinthe and cognac.
3. Jackson Pollock
Pollock was a deeply troubled alcohol abuser who was unable to overcome his demons. He was killed at age 44 while driving home after a night out on the town with his buddies. He and his pals were well known for closing their favorite bar, the Cedar Bar, a few miles from Pollock’s home.
He ran head-on into a tree that also killed his friend, Edith Metzger.
Pollock’s success as a painter took place in the short period he managed to stay sober, thanks to his wife, Lee Krasner, also a successful artist. She found a doctor who was able to put a stop to his alcohol misuse temporarily — back to drinking a short time later.
4. Mark Rothco
Another artist suffering from depression and alcohol addiction, Rothco, was famous in the mid-20th century. He was also addicted to anti-depressants, attempting to kill himself with pills and booze.
He ultimately succeeded and died by a combination of an overdose of barbiturates and a cut to an artery in his arm with a razor blade.
Rothco was known for his “soft” color block paintings in the abstract modern art scene.
5. Pablo Picasso
No list would be complete without this artist — often called one of the greatest painters of the 20th century. He is renowned for his works in cubism, classicism, surrealism, and various periods, such as Blue and Rose.
Picasso was another who had a love of absinthe and other alcohols — often imbibing while he painted. His passion for absinthe appeared in paintings like The Absynthe Drinker, which sold for 51.2 million dollars in 2010.
Before dying at age 91, he said: “Drink to me, drink to my health. You know I can’t drink anymore.”
I’d be remiss if I didn’t add a woman to this list, as they were not exempt from the travails of alcohol. So, for good measure and not to be overshadowed by the male species, here is:
Joan Mitchell
Ms. Mitchell’s artistic hero was van Gogh, and like him, she suffered from depression and turned to alcohol for solace.
Mitchell was one of the most famous artists of the abstract expressionist movement and a close friend of Pollock.
She was known to be outgoing and lively and always ready for fun. Mitchell drank often and heavily and got into loud arguments with friends and lovers in New York restaurants.
Being traumatized by her father when a child was deemed the cause of her alcohol dependency.
The stories and adventures of these talented beings are celebrated, as is their art. However, alcohol is destructive and often causes the ruination of creatives in all genres. Very sad, indeed.