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Numerous artists have departed, leaving behind a final creation that remains intriguingly incomplete. Even more fascinating, though in a somewhat somber way, are the ultimate pieces by artists who chose to end their lives. Some of these works appear to reflect the turmoil within their creators, while others surprisingly exude tranquility, starkly contrasting the artists' inner anguish.
10. Zebra and Parachute by Christopher Wood
Zebra And Parachute was among two artworks created by Christopher Wood during his time in Paris in the summer of 1930, the second being Tiger And Arc De Triomphe. Both pieces feature a surreal juxtaposition of an exotic animal with a manmade structure, though Zebra And Parachute stands out with the addition of a parachuting figure in the sky. Notably, the parachutist appears lifeless, possibly dead or severely injured, adding a somber tone to the piece.
Following his departure from Paris to England in August 1930, Wood reunited with his mother in Salisbury to present his latest creations, including Zebra And Parachute. Sadly, Wood was battling the effects of opium withdrawal, which fueled his paranoia and the delusion of being chased by an unknown presence. In a tragic attempt to flee his imagined pursuer, Wood leaped in front of a train later that day. To spare his mother distress, his death was often reported as accidental by the press at the time.
9. Nu Sur La Plage by John William Godward
Throughout his 40-year career, John Godward consistently focused on portraying elegant women draped in classical robes. This approach earned him acclaim, particularly for his ability to capture the fluid motion of ancient garments with remarkable precision. However, his works were not universally praised, with critics often labeling his idealized and historically inaccurate depictions as “Victorians in togas.” His family disapproved of his profession and severed ties with him after he relocated to Italy in 1912, even destroying all photographs that reminded them of him.
As he aged, Godward’s output dwindled due to declining health. Among his final works were Contemplation and Nu Sur La Plage (“Nude On The Beach”), both finished shortly before his death. Nu Sur La Plage stands out as it diverges from his typical style of classical settings adorned with intricate clothing and marble backdrops. By this time, Godward’s classical approach was deemed outdated, yet he seemed unable to adapt. In December 1922, he ended his life, leaving behind a suicide note stating that the world was not large enough for both him and Picasso.
8. Le Concert by Nicolas De Stael
Nicolas de Stael, a highly productive French abstract artist, created thousands of paintings and drawings during his brief yet impactful career. In the final five months of his life, he completed 147 paintings, with Blue Nude Lying likely being his last, finished in 1955. Tragically, in March of that year, he took his own life by leaping from a high-rise in Antibes, leaving his final piece, Le Concert, incomplete. He was only 41 years old.
Le Concert was de Stael’s most monumental and ambitious work, spanning six meters (20 ft) in width and meters (11.5 ft) in height. The painting depicts a grand piano and a double bass surrounded by scattered sheets of music, symbolizing how these instruments typically remain on stage after a performance. Inspired by a concert he attended the previous evening, de Stael rushed home and worked tirelessly on the painting until poor lighting halted his progress. He then destroyed all his sketches and ended his life. In his final note, he wrote, “I lack the strength to finish my paintings.”
7. The Death of James Dean by John Minton
John Minton, a painter and illustrator, left his final work incomplete when he took his own life in January 1957. The unfinished piece portrays a severely injured man surrounded by grieving bystanders. The day before his death, artist Ruskin Spear visited Minton’s studio, where Minton revealed that he associated the dying figure with Hollywood actor James Dean, who had tragically died in a car crash two years earlier at the age of 24.
Spear believed that James Dean symbolized the anguish of the younger generation, a sentiment Minton deeply connected with. However, the true inspiration behind the dying figure remains unclear. Some speculate that Minton was influenced by a similar car accident he witnessed in Barcelona, which he later linked to Dean’s death. Minton’s suicide was driven by his depression and a crisis of confidence, exacerbated by the declining popularity of his work as abstract art gained prominence. Despite the painting’s unfinished state, there are hints that Minton had no plans to complete it, expressing concern to a friend about turning it into “another Johnny Minton painting.”
6. Untitled (Black On Gray) by Mark Rothko
Mark Rothko is best known for his abstract works featuring vividly colored rectangles, which garnered widespread acclaim for their ability to evoke deep emotional reactions through color. However, Rothko resented this praise, striving to be recognized as more than just a colorist. He emphasized that his primary focus was on conveying raw emotion, stating he was “not interested in the relationship of color or form or anything else.”
In his later years, Rothko’s paintings grew increasingly somber and stark, likely as a deliberate effort to defy his public image. His final collection, known as “the Black Paintings,” predominantly featured black and grey canvases with a horizontal division and a narrow white border. Rothko himself acknowledged that these works were reflections on death. After separating from his wife and battling severe depression, Rothko tragically ended his life by cutting his wrists in his New York studio in 1970.
5. Une Famille Dans La Desolation by Constance Mayer
Constance Mayer tragically ended her life while working on Une Famille Dans La Desolation (“A Miserable Family”), but the painting was not left incomplete. It was finished by Pierre-Paul Prud’hon, her partner in one of art history’s most infamous and tragic romances.
The two met in 1803, when Prud’hon was a celebrated painter in France and Mayer was an emerging talent. They quickly formed a close artistic partnership, collaborating so closely that it became challenging to distinguish her work from his. Prud’hon, who favored drawing over painting, would often create the initial sketches, which Mayer would then complete in oils. Due to Prud’hon’s greater fame (and gender), many of these joint works were sold under his name alone, with some owners even replacing Mayer’s signature with his to increase their value. Despite this, Mayer achieved significant success and maintained a studio at the Sorbonne.
Their partnership might have been ideal, but Prud’hon was already burdened by a troubled family life. He and his wife had six children, though their marriage was so strained that she suffered a mental breakdown and eventually died in an asylum. According to one account, Prud’hon vowed to his wife on her deathbed that he would never remarry, leaving Constance heartbroken. Others believe Mayer’s despair was triggered by the government seizing her Sorbonne studio. Regardless of the cause, on May 26, 1821, Mayer took her own life using Prud’hon’s razor. Overwhelmed by grief, Prud’hon died two years later, but not before completing their final joint work: a poignant depiction of a family in mourning.
4. Riding With Death by Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat launched his artistic journey as a teenage graffiti artist in Manhattan before shifting his focus to painting in his later years. His unique style and profound compositions quickly earned him widespread recognition, making him a celebrated figure in the art world. However, Basquiat battled a heroin addiction and tragically died at the age of 27 from a “speedball” overdose, a lethal combination of heroin and cocaine.
Basquiat was incredibly prolific, making it difficult to pinpoint his final completed work. One strong contender is Riding with Death, created shortly before his death in 1988. The painting depicts a skeletal figure being ridden by a human, with some critics interpreting it as a reference to spiritual possession in Haitian voodoo. While some of Basquiat’s later works have been criticized as rushed or overly commercial, Riding With Death remains highly regarded. Other potential final works include Eroica II, The Dingoes That Park Their Brains With Their Gum, and The Mechanics That Always Have A Gear Left Over.
3. Daubigny’s Garden by Vincent Van Gogh
The eerie and unsettling Wheatfield With Crows is frequently but incorrectly cited as Vincent van Gogh’s last painting. While it was indeed one of his final works, analysis of his letters suggests it was completed approximately two weeks before his death in July 1890. This means his true final painting was likely Daubigny’s Garden, part of a trio of works portraying the expansive garden of Charles-François Daubigny, a painter van Gogh greatly respected. Unlike the somber Wheatfield With Crows, this serene garden scene shows no obvious signs of van Gogh’s inner turmoil.
On July 27, 1890, van Gogh ventured outside to paint, reportedly carrying a loaded gun. He attempted to end his life by shooting himself in the chest, though the wound was not immediately fatal. He succumbed to his injuries two days later, with his brother by his side, at the age of 37. Van Gogh never gained significant recognition during his lifetime, and tragically, his mother discarded a substantial portion of his work after his death.
2. Agony by Arshile Gorky
Arshile Gorky, a prominent abstract expressionist, used basic shapes and colors to convey profound meaning. In the years before his death, Gorky faced a series of devastating events. In 1946, a fire ravaged his studio, destroying many of his most prized works. Soon after, his health declined, and he was diagnosed with cancer. To compound his misery, he discovered his wife Agnes had been unfaithful with another artist. The couple separated, and Agnes left with their two daughters.
In 1947, Gorky created several notable works, including Agony, The Plough And The Song, and The Limit And The Beginning, any of which could be considered his final piece. Agony stands out as it reflects Gorky’s profound suffering during this period. The intense red hues, rarely used in his earlier works, likely symbolize the fire that consumed his studio. In 1948, Gorky’s streak of misfortune reached its peak when a car accident left him with a broken neck, paralyzing his painting arm. Unable to continue his work, he tragically ended his life in his studio a month later.
1. Nude Self-Portrait With Palette by Richard Gerstl
Richard Gerstl created some of his most acclaimed works during a clandestine affair with Mathilde, the wife of renowned composer Arnold Schoenberg. Throughout their relationship, Gerstl painted several nude portraits of both himself and Mathilde. After being caught in a compromising situation, the pair fled from Schoenberg but eventually, Mathilde abandoned Gerstl and returned to her husband, citing the welfare of their children.
Devastated by the breakup, Gerstl ended his life in November 1908 at just 25 years old. He first attempted to stab himself in the torso and, when that failed, hanged himself in front of a mirror in his studio, surrounded by his artwork. His final known piece, Nude Self-Portrait With Palette, painted in September 1908, depicts a gaunt and pale Gerstl against a striking blue backdrop. The hurried, uneven brushstrokes suggest the work was painted rapidly, mirroring his emotional turmoil.
