PSYCHOLOGY

RELATIONSHIP PSYCHOLOGY: On Passion and Innovation

What the Life of Modigliani Can Teach Us about Creativity

Posted Apr 26, 2018 by Moses Ma

Source: Moses Ma/public domain

An exploration of can be informed by the study of the muse—the rarest element in the periodic table of creativity, a catalyst that not only quickens the spirit but deepens the brilliance and meaning of the art that is produced. So, let us look into the life of the artist to explore the of creativity.

In honor of a Modigliani painting "Nu couché sur le côté gauche" , the 2nd-highest price ever for a painting at auction, let's consider the life of this exceedingly passionate artist. Modigliani was truly prolific, constantly sketching, making as many as 100 drawings a day! Sadly, he destroyed many of these, which is a common practice for artists seeking to renew their passion.

Like his contemporary Vincent van Gogh, Amedeo Modigliani endured a bohemian impoverishment; often flat broke, he was known to exchange works of art for meals at restaurants. This condition lasted well into his final days—he died of tubercular meningitis in a hospital for the homeless. He would have been amused to learn that one of his nudes, one of the less important ones that the failed to name, would someday sell for such an unbelievable sum. Instead of paying for a meal, the painting would have bought the entire café and all the buildings around it.

What is truly memorable about Modigliani was his passion for and life. The Belgian psychotherapist Esther Perel wrote, in her best-seller The State of Affairs: Rethinking , "Love is messy; infidelity more so. But it is also a window, like none other, into the crevices of the human heart." Well, there probably wasn't an artist who mastered the art of infidelity better than Modigliani. No better place to investigate the crevices of human passion and creativity.

Source: Moses Ma/public domain

Although diminutive of stature, Modigliani was larger than life. He had big black bedroom eyes, framed by shiny black curls, and a big soft mouth, perfect for kissing... or cunnilingus. If he were alive today, he'd be a constant user of Tinder. Yes, it should be noted that he was an excellent pick up artist... he memorized thousands of poetry verses by heart, from obscure medieval works to contemporary French love poems, all finely tuned for seduction. He never parted from his copy of Les Chants de Maldoror by the French poet Lautréamont. Everything he did was in service to his obsession of love, and passion.

Modigliani was an adherent of Nietzsche's and his adulation for the German philosopher's ideology prompted him to adopt a similar brand of enthusiasm towards sex and its regenerative power. I believe that if Modigliani were alive today, he would have become a tantric adept, rather than an addict of absinthe and hashish, in his search for transcendent bliss. In fact, his first name, literally translates to "one who loves God." Or in his case, the Goddess.