Gustav Vigeland A Psychobiographic Study

Abstract

Background The art of the sculptor Gustav Vigeland is well kown worldwide. However, most people know little about his personal life. The aim of this study is to assess the personality structure of this renowned artist. We have also discussed possible depressions in his life and social phobia.

Material and Methods The primary sources used in this study are a biography written by the former assistant keeper at the Vigeland museum, Tone Wikborg, Vigelands own poems and the diaries of Hans Dedekam, Nini Roll Anker and Harald Aars. Other sources include further use of biographies, searches on the Internet, as well as medical literature of psychiatry.

The method used has been to assess different personality traits according to the ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioral Disorders. The same classification system has been used in assessing possible depressions. Furthermore, social phobia has been discussed.

Results This study concludes that Gustav Vigeland suffered from a paranoid personality disorder. He also had distinct traits from several other personality disorders, primarily obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, dissocial personality disorder and emotionally unstable personality disorder. This disorder, however, was not to influence his capacity as an artist. On the other hand it is clearly obvious that his personal life, and in particularly his relations to other people, were affected. He experienced three certain depressive episodes, one of which was possibly with psychotic symptoms. According to ICD-10 this means he suffered from a recurring depressive disorder. The sculptor also most likely suffered from the afore-mentioned social phobia.