Antonin Artaud

Date of Birth: September 4, 1896

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: March 4, 1948

Biography

Antonin Artaud, born Antoine Marie Joseph Artaud on September 4, 1896, in Marseille, France, was a seminal French dramatist, poet, actor, and theater director. He is best known for his influential theories on theater and his creation of the “Theatre of Cruelty,” which sought to attack the senses of the audience and unleash unconscious responses. Artaud’s work has left an indelible mark on modern theater and performance art. Artaud’s early life was fraught with illness; he suffered from severe meningitis at the age of four, which led to a lifetime of chronic pain and psychological issues. Despite his health challenges, he moved to Paris in the 1920s to pursue a career in the arts. He quickly became involved with the Surrealist movement but was later expelled due to ideological differences. In the 1930s, Artaud traveled extensively, including a notable trip to Mexico, where he was profoundly influenced by the rituals of the Tarahumara people. Upon his return to France, he published “The Theatre and Its Double,” a collection of essays that articulated his vision for the Theatre of Cruelty. Artaud’s later years were marked by mental instability, leading to multiple stays in psychiatric hospitals. Despite his struggles, his impact on theater theory and practice remains profound. He passed away on March 4, 1948, in Ivry-sur-Seine, France.

5 Interesting Facts about Antonin Artaud

1. Antonin Artaud was expelled from the Surrealist movement in 1926 due to ideological differences with its leader, André Breton.

2. His influential book “The Theatre and Its Double” was published in 1938 and remains a cornerstone of modern theatrical theory.

3. Artaud was deeply influenced by the rituals of the Tarahumara people during his trip to Mexico in the 1930s.

4. He suffered from chronic pain and psychological issues throughout his life, which were exacerbated by his addiction to laudanum.

5. Artaud’s theories on the Theatre of Cruelty aimed to shock audiences into confronting the darker aspects of human nature.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Antonin Artaud

1. “No one has ever written, painted, sculpted, modeled, built, or invented except literally to get out of hell.”

2. “The theatre, which is in no thing, but makes use of everything—gestures, sounds, words, screams, light, darkness—rediscovers itself at precisely the point where the mind requires a language to express its manifestations.”

3. “We have to endure the discord of crumbling destinies and say yes to the very things that crush us.”

4. “The actor is an athlete of the heart.”

5. “You are outside life, you see, and this is why you write. You are not mad, you are resigned.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Antonin Artaud did not achieve significant financial success during his lifetime. His works gained more recognition and value posthumously, and he did not accumulate notable wealth.