Tortured artist
A tortured artist is a stock character and real-life stereotype who is in constant torment due to frustrations with art, other people, or the world in general.Background
The trope of the tortured artist is thought to have been started by Plato.
Creativity and mental illness have been connected over time. Some mental disorders, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, have been said to have helped popular artists with their works. One of the most known tortured artists is Vincent Van Gogh, who suffered from psychosis.
The trope has, however, been criticized for romanticizing mental illness, treating mental illness as a necessary ingredient for creativity.
