Vincent van Gogh is one of the most famous and obvious examples of a tortured artist.  His historic self-portrait has become an infamous staple in the conversation of creative genius and madness.  His professional diagnoses are that of bipolar disorder and alcoholism as determined by the analysis of evidence in the following five categories: “type I evidence (clinical opinion of an attending physician), type II evidence (description of symptoms in written correspondence), type III evidence (historical accounts from first-hand sources or direct observation), type IV evidence (interpretation of the artwork), and type V evidence (family medical history)" (Correa).

    Looking at historical evidence and accounts from van Gogh and those close to him, his symptoms included extreme mood swings and periods of depression and mania, including at least one paranoid episode.  He also experienced severe hallucinations causing him to eat paintings and engage in other self-destructive behavior.  These symptoms were worsened by his alcoholism, insomnia, and tendency toward disordered eating.  All of these also accumulated in physical illnesses like severe abdominal cramping, chronic infections, sexual impotence, and aphasia.

    Despite these conditions, Vincent van Gogh had the determination and innate creativity to become one of the most historic and recognizable artists of all time.  His success was “not due to his mental condition, as has been argued in various publications that associate genius with madness.... [instead,] the analysis proposed here allows us to argue that the work of van Gogh has emerged” in spite of his circumstances (Correa).