Vincent Van Gogh Schizophrenia Essay
Gabriella Vigna
Case Study: Vincent Van Gogh
Abnormal Psychology
Have you ever heard of the painting “The Starry Night?” Well, it was created by artist and possible mentally ill Vincent Van Gogh. Vincent Van Gogh was believed to have schizophrenia. But he lived in a time that schizophrenia was not even heard of yet, so it could not have been established as schizophrenia or even any mental illness to be exact. Through his very artistic ways and him cutting off his own ear, many thought that he was mentally insane. And that is why in today’s society we believe that he might have had a psychological issue, like schizophrenia. Eventually his psychotic ways led in a tragic ending. His death.
Vincent Van Gogh was born into a family …show more content…
He didn’t always paint the world in a way as normal people see it. Which can only make you wonder, is that how he really saw it? The only way someone can really know for sure is if you could ask him, but that can no longer be done, as he is deceased. Vincent Van Gogh started to become more mentally unstable with his age. Vincent Van Gogh was treated by physician, Paul-Ferdinand Gachet. It is not known for what he was treated though. It very well could have been, “Gachet may well have treated van Gogh for mania and/or epilepsy with digitalis.” (VAL) Digitalis can cause hues like the colors that are seen in the famous painting, “The Starry Night,” which so happens to be painted by Vincent Van Gogh. Vincent Van Gogh’s mental state was becoming so increasingly powerful that he started doing questionable things. He even “cut off part of his left earlobe, which he then presented to Rachel, his favorite prostitute. The police were alerted; he was found unconscious at his home and was hospitalized. There he lapsed into an acute psychotic state with agitation, hallucinations, and delusions that required 3 days of solitary confinement.” (Blumer 2002) Normally, people do not just go around cutting off there earlobes and presenting them to people. It’s not a custom that people are acquired
Case Study: Vincent Van Gogh
Abnormal Psychology
Have you ever heard of the painting “The Starry Night?” Well, it was created by artist and possible mentally ill Vincent Van Gogh. Vincent Van Gogh was believed to have schizophrenia. But he lived in a time that schizophrenia was not even heard of yet, so it could not have been established as schizophrenia or even any mental illness to be exact. Through his very artistic ways and him cutting off his own ear, many thought that he was mentally insane. And that is why in today’s society we believe that he might have had a psychological issue, like schizophrenia. Eventually his psychotic ways led in a tragic ending. His death.
Vincent Van Gogh was born into a family …show more content…
He didn’t always paint the world in a way as normal people see it. Which can only make you wonder, is that how he really saw it? The only way someone can really know for sure is if you could ask him, but that can no longer be done, as he is deceased. Vincent Van Gogh started to become more mentally unstable with his age. Vincent Van Gogh was treated by physician, Paul-Ferdinand Gachet. It is not known for what he was treated though. It very well could have been, “Gachet may well have treated van Gogh for mania and/or epilepsy with digitalis.” (VAL) Digitalis can cause hues like the colors that are seen in the famous painting, “The Starry Night,” which so happens to be painted by Vincent Van Gogh. Vincent Van Gogh’s mental state was becoming so increasingly powerful that he started doing questionable things. He even “cut off part of his left earlobe, which he then presented to Rachel, his favorite prostitute. The police were alerted; he was found unconscious at his home and was hospitalized. There he lapsed into an acute psychotic state with agitation, hallucinations, and delusions that required 3 days of solitary confinement.” (Blumer 2002) Normally, people do not just go around cutting off there earlobes and presenting them to people. It’s not a custom that people are acquired