What is a good painting that portrays madness?

Question

besides the scream?

Answer 1

Goya's 'the dream of reason brings forth monsters' -
its an etching rather than a painting but for me its the definitive depiction of madness (aside from the scream)

http://cgfa.sunsite.dk/goya/caprichos/p-cap43.htm

Martino's answer though rasies an interesting issue about whether you want a 'depiction' of madness by artists who were not neccessarily 'mad' (or certainly not certified as such) or whether you want work that gives an actual insight into mental illness. If the latter is the case then 'The Prinzhorn collection' contains images made by inmates at asylums and is a fascinating group of works

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Reason-Psychosis-Prinzhorn-Collection/dp/1853321583/sr=8-3/qid=1160420201/ref=sr_1_3/202-2871724-6957410?ie=UTF8&s=books

Answer 2

The Scream

Answer 3

I kind of think the painting of the melting clocks(I know who its by but I cant remember their name) would be a good painting that portrays madness

Answer 4

I am interested in the art of the "mentally ill" vs. attempts to portray mental problems in painting. Perhaps you would be, too. There's a whole category called "Outsider Art" and "Art Brut" which is art by (usually) untutored people who are removed for one reason or another (often mental problems) from mainstream society. Their art reveals modes of thinking not accessible to the average "sane" person.

Also, Richard Dadd's "The Fairyfeller's Masterstroke" was completed over a period of years while he was in what they called an asylum, then, for having killed his father. It reveals an obssessive level of detail.

Answer 5

Hieronymus Bosch
The Cure of Madness

Answer 6

Check out Van Gogh paintings.

Answer 7

I found this one at random:
http://www.absolutearts.com/cgi-bin/portfolio/art/your-art.cgi?login=pasquelle&title=Madness-1006370193.jpg

If I were you I'd have a look at francis bacon too:
http://www.francis-bacon.cx/exhibit.html

possibly some surealist paintings might be seen as portraying madness, but i suppose art is in the aye of the beholder :)

Answer 8

I think most of Goya's work does a pretty good job of portraying madness.

Answer 9

Edward Munch's "The Scream." It was just recovered after being stolen 2 years ago. It's very popular.

Answer 10

van gogh's final works display his increasingly agitated mental state leading up to his suicide

this started to emerge in the raven painted in 1889 and intensified in the last 3 months of his life