Disabled artists have all made their mark on history and continue to influence the directory of contemporary art. However, even some of the world's most renowned artists have had their disabilities erased from public knowledge. Here are four of history’s forgotten disabled artists, all of whom were either influenced by their disability or inspired by it.
Frida Kahlo
Photo: Flickr
Taking inspiration from Mexican folk culture, Frida Khalo is most well-known for her bold self-portraits. Despite being one of the most
timeless artists, Frida’s disabilities have been forgotten as a part of her life’s journey.
At age 6, Frida was stricken with polio, a life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus, which caused her right leg to appear much thinner than her left. The diagnoses left Frida permanently disabled and walking with a limp.
She was later involved in a bus accident that destroyed her body when a steel railing penetrated her hip and exited at the opposite side. Her spinal column and pelvis were both broken in the incident, requiring the insertion of metal rods through her spine and pelvis.
While in recovery, Frida returned to her childhood interest in art, turning her disability into intricate artwork. The Broken Column (1944) and Tree of Hope, Remain Strong (1946) are among some of the portraits that directly represent Frida’s disability. The latter, in particular, presents the comparison between a victim of a tragedy and a survivor - perfectly mirroring how Frida never let her pain destroy her soul.
Due to the severity of her injuries, Frida was bedridden and underwent up to 30 surgeries in her lifetime, including an amputation.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Photo: Flickr
Pierre-Auguste Renoir was a French painter who helped pioneer the Impressionist movement. He is most well-recognised for his painting of an outdoor bathing spot and bar The Frog Pond (1869).
Despite being championed by many for his involvement in platforming the Impressionist style, Renoir’s battle with rheumatoid arthritis is often overlooked - although this could be a testament to how well he was able to maintain artistic precision even with such a disease.
Having developed arthritis in the last 20 years of his life meant Renoir had limited mobility in his hands which were key utensils to his paintings. He could have very easily become pessimistic about the diagnosis but instead remained positive and continued to pursue his passion.
He was able to adjust to the progression of his arthritis by setting a variety of coping mechanisms that helped him maintain a high level of productivity. When Renoir became a wheelchair user and his hands became deformed, for example, he strapped the brush to his hands which did not affect the quality of his work as was expected.
It is estimated he completed approximately 4,000 paintings before his death.
Henri Matisse
Photo: Flickr
French visual artist, Henry Matisse, is often credited as the greatest colourist of the twentieth century. He began his fruitful career wanting to create art that would be “a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair”.
However, Matisse's life was not in keeping with the mild and gentle art he wished to create. Towards the end of his life, Matisse’s health weakened. After a significant surgery for cancer in 1941, he was limited to a wheelchair.
It was this that led to the invention of the ‘cut paper’ technique where Matisse would cut out shapes from coloured paper and had assistants stick them to large-scale canvases. He would also, at times attach stalk to the end of sticks and sketch outlines of designs.
Michaelangelo
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Michaelangelo needs no introduction. He was an Italian sculptor and painter during the Renaissance period. However, like others on this list, Michelangelo had a disability that has been widely forgotten by the public.
It is likely that the Italian artist suffered from autism called Asperger's syndrome, characterised by his repetitive behaviour, poor social skills, limited interests and single-minded work routine (as documented by his friends and family).
Although the credibility of this is debated by experts, Michelangelo recorded that he experienced limited function in his hands and feet, which caused him great pain. Historians who believe that Michaelangelo had autism suggest that his disabling health problems were the consequence of Asperger’s syndrome and the overuse of his body.
Words by Anna Jafri
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