What does "tortured artist" mean?

Answer by  bean11 (2803)

The phrase "tortured artist" can mean a variety of things. The artist could be tortured because he feels that no one understand his creative ideas; he could be tortured because his art goes unappreciated; it could be that he cannot think of any new ideas; or the torture could be from his work not selling, making him a "starving artist."

Answer by  Zoe (2369)

Oftentimes it is believed that madness and dark emotions stimulate creativity. He may mean that he is creative partially because of emotional pain he has experienced or is experiencing.