Psychoanalysis.  2022 Jan;33(1):1-18. 10.18529/psychoanal.2022.33.1.1.

The Comparing Analysis of Sociocultural Background and Mental Illness between Painter Lee Jungseop and Vincent Van Gogh

• Lee YS
• Hwang H

• KMID: 2525293
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.18529/psychoanal.2022.33.1.1

Abstract

The authors have investigated the life, family, premorbid personality, historical background, writings, and dysfunctional behaviors of Vincent van Gogh and Jungseop Lee before hospitalization. Psychiatric symptoms at the time of hospital admission, physical and mental illness, psychodynamic approach, treatment, and artistic creativity were evaluated. The two artists showed characteristics of bipolar disorder and substance use disorder including alcoholism. Van Gogh showed possibilities of bipolar schizoaffective disorder, while Lee had signs of bipolar II disorder. The two artists showed high creative urges in hypomanic states and low creative urges in depressive states. Van Gogh was amenable to psychiatric treatment from the start. Lee, although showed resistance to treatment at first, improved with progressive treatment and continued his artistic endeavors. Artists who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder and individuals close to them require ongoing psychiatric supervision to prevent mood swings, substance abuse, and suicide and continue their artistic work. Also, any discussion related to the artist’s creativity and psychiatric disorders should not belittle the artistic achievements by overinterpreting the artist’s physical or psychiatric illness or underestimat-ing and ignoring them altogether. The two artists’ lives represent a struggle to manifest artistic creativity and goals in life along-side the fight against psychiatric illness and hardship.

Keyword

Vincent van Gogh; Jungseop Lee; Psychiatric illness