Unsuccessful "Famous" Artists

Some artists go through their whole live trying to "make it big". They'll do anything to get there, only to have their peers scoff at their work and look the other way. Other artists are too self-conscious or unsure of their work; often ending up holding onto their masterpieces until death do they part. So why do some artists become famous after they die, and not while they were alive?

Vincent Van Gogh, Johann Sebastian Bach, Jane Austen. Three famous artists who all did not see fame during their time on Earth, but today their names are spoken and recognized by millions of people all around the world. Why is that? Most of the time, as it turns out, the artist is far beyond their time. Their genius artist ability highly exceeds their pupils and they simply become another person in the background. Why are they so far above the rest? What do all three of those previously mentioned artists have in common? To put in plainly, their brains were wired differently than others. Every artist I mention in this post (with the exception of Bach, which can be argued) has been shown to have a mental illness sometime during his or her lifetime. Just food for thought.

Now, let's look at a couple American authors who all endured the same circumstances:

Emily Dickinson

Popularly known as one of the best female poets, Emily's poems often lie on the dark and dramatic edge. She was a truly innovative writer with her unique free style, which often included short, brisk lines that broke all of the rules. Emily did not follow a writing style of her fellow peers, but rather invented her own. Her personality was just as unique as her poetry, as she was commonly known for her introverted ways and agoraphobia. A few of her poems were actually published during her lifetime, but did not catch on like they did after her death.

Edgar Allan Poe

My personal favorite. Poe was a Romantic writer who focused on dark, mystery, and death. His work often offset these dark topics by rhyming in almost a sing-songy way. Unlike Dickinson, Poe was desperate to get his work published, as his life was not a glamorous one. He was plagued with his wife's death, alcoholism, and a possible mental illness to top it all off. He had very little money and often moved around a lot. When he tried to publish his work, he was not offered much, as it is known that his famous piece 'The Raven' went for less than $15.


Why do you think some artists do not become famous until after their death?