Negative Creativity

Strife, conflict and angst, Why is it that so much of the worlds great art is produced by these negatives? I don't understand why it is, it just seams to be. There have been many happy artists, but my favorites all have a ting of melancholy, or a story of woe. Artistic expression may be a direct gift from God, to help us deal with life's pain. For your consideration, I offer Saint Bartholomew, from Michelangelo's Last Judgment. Note how the Saint displays the skin carved from him in martyrdom, and holds high, the instrument of his torture. It is believed that what Saint Bartholomew holds in his left hand bares the face of Michelangelo,,,so very Dark and so very beautiful.

-S