Gheorghe Marinescu’s studies on the influence of mescaline on artistic creativity

Abstract

Background and aim. The artists of the avant-garde experienced numerous psychotropic drugs in order to stimulate their creativity. Between the two world wars, physicians, especially neurologists and psychiatrists, performed several studies on visual artists. The aim of this paper is to present a French medical journal, where the famous Romanian neurologist Gheorghe Marinescu published some of his studies on the effect of mescaline on two professional painters.

Methods. An anniversary issue of the French journal La Presse Médicale, including the work of Gheorghe Marinescu on mescaline and its influence on color vision is described. The publication belongs to the authors’ private collection. The pharmacological effects of mescaline on visual sensitivity and some historical medical attempts to assess this effect are also included.

Results. Mescaline was administered by Gheorghe Marinescu to two visual artists who were asked to describe their sensations and cognitions under the effect of this substance. Their sensations and feelings were recorded. The paintings created by the artists are reproduced. They look like surrealistic and abstract art.

Conclusions. The famous Romanian neurologist Gheorghe Marinescu published in the French journal La Presse Médicale an interesting report of the visual effects of mescaline in two professional painters. This paper is important for the history of medicine and of the avant-gardist fine arts.