Table of contentsIntroductionPeriod of RealismPeriod of RomanticismModernConclusionIntroductionGreen, brown, red and blue are colors that, from an early age, humans learned to associate with certain objects. When we think of grass or leaves, our minds tend to paint them green. Over the years, art and its influences have changed the way people see things. One group of people who have always seen the world differently are those who suffer from mental illness. Today, mental illness is defined as a disorder that affects mood, thinking and behavior. Depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and addictive behaviors are all types of mental illnesses. Scientists don't know the exact reason why mental illness occurs, but research shows that these conditions are caused by a combination of biological, environmental, and psychological factors. In the study “Causes of Mental Illness,” scientists prove that “some mental illnesses have been linked to abnormal functioning of nerve cell circuits or pathways that connect certain regions of the brain. The nerve cells in these brain circuits communicate via chemicals called neurotransmitters.” Although in some cases it may not seem like it, mental illness is treatable. Humans who suffer from mental illness today are able to control it by expressing their feelings, thoughts and actions or through creativity such as paintings, sculptures and drawings. To what extent have mental illnesses in different eras had an effect on paintings, drawings and sculptures? Humans have learned to cope with mental illness by using different types of art as forms of communication and means of expressing themselves. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Realism Period Artists of all kinds turned to creative outlets to help them combat their mental illness. Vincent Van Gogh was one of many artists suffering from mental illness. He was born on March 30, 1853 in Zerdant, Netherlands and is also known for his paintings and drawings. Due to his illness, he cut his left earlobe with a razor blade. In the article “Art for the Soul and Spirit,” Abida Chowdhury writes: “Vincent van Gogh’s struggles with mental health issues are no secret either. Gogh, who cut off his ear after an argument with his friend Paul Gauguin and then committed suicide, oscillated heavily between genius and madness. Due to Van Gogh's mental illness, he was hospitalized, which placed restrictions on his creative influences. While in the hospital, he created one of his last works known as The Starry Night. Today we believe in freedom of expression. Painting was Van Gogh's only way to express the thoughts that were running through his mind, but while he was in the hospital, his creative vision was limited. Van Gogh was not the only artist to suffer from mental illness during the Realism era. Edvard Munch is an artist who also suffered from illness. He is known for his paintings and graphics. Munch was born in Adalsbruk, Norway, in 1863. In the article "Creativity and Mental Illness II: The Scream," Albert Rothenberg, MD, writes: "The diagnosis of bipolar disorder with psychosis is based on his own descriptions of the disorder visual and auditory. hallucinations.” . . A well-known painting around the world created by Munch is TheCry. Edvard Munch was a hallucinogen, meaning he saw and heard things that didn't actually exist. In his painting The Scream, there is a man who is on a bridge. The man's face is oval shaped and his eyes are very wide. Facial expressions show that he is hearing or seeing something that is not really there. The Scream is a painting that represents the hallucinations of Edvard Munch. Decades ago, there was no technology or science like today. When one human said they heard noises or saw images that didn't actually exist, others simply thought they were crazy. Thanks to the technology that scientists currently have, humans know that when people say these things, they are hallucinating. Romanticism Period Going even further back in time, another artist who suffered from mental illness is Francisco De Goya. De Goya was born on March 30, 1746 in Fuendetodos, Spain. In the article “4 Artists Who Suffered from Mental Illness (and How It Affected Their Art)” by Rute Ferreira, they state: “More current speculation suggests that Goya suffered from Susac. Syndrome, a disease that in addition to causing hearing and visual loss, also causes brain and balance problems. As a painter, vision is something you rely on a lot. As De Goya was blind, this created a challenge for him. That De Goya could create a work of art that has spanned the centuries and is still recognized today is extremely incredible considering his illnesses. Just like De Goya, Richard Dadd also suffered from mental problems. Dadd was born on August 1, 1817 in Chatham, United Kingdom. He is known for masterpieces such as The Fairy Feller's Master Stroke. Karen Stock wrote: “Richard Dadd, a young, academically trained artist who exhibited at the Royal Academy, suddenly descended into madness in 1843 and murdered his father whom he believed to be an imposter. Dadd spent forty-two years in institutions for the criminally insane. During this period his doctors encouraged him to paint and continued to produce works of art which included a large series, Sketches to Illustrate the Passions (1853-1857). Richard Dadd was an artist who suffered from schizophrenia, which led to some disturbing incidents in his life. Dad believed his father was the devil, and because of this, he stabbed him to death in the throat with a razor blade. Shortly after Richard Dadd murdered his father, he traveled to France where he also killed a tourist with a razor blade. Schizophrenia occurs when humans have a false perception of life and can cause problems like those caused by Richard Dadd. It is important to know whether or not a person has schizophrenia because if people know, then there is a chance that it can be treated, whereas if no one knows, some things will not go well. Modern Times Determining whether someone is suffering from a mental illness is still very important today. Scientists have succeeded in creating technology that benefits humans more. The technology we have today is capable of determining the cause, solution, and medications needed to treat mental illness. Treatments for these mental illnesses affect creativity. For example, my older brother, Dustin Delaune, suffers from anxiety and takes medication for it. Dustin loves performing on stage, but his anxiety often prevents him from doing so. By taking this medication, he is able to leave his anxiety behind and focus on what he loves, like performing on stage. Around the world, humans with mental illness are still able to function and.