Gheorghe Marinescu's studies on the influence of mescaline on artistic creativity.
Irina Dora Magurean, Vlaicu Sandor, Dan L Dumitrascu
Medicine and pharmacy reports October 1, 2025 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.15386/mpr-2901 via PubMed
Summary
Gheorghe Marinescu studied the effects of mescaline on two professional painters, documenting their sensations and cognitions while under its influence. Their experiences were recorded, and the resulting paintings resemble surrealistic and abstract art. The findings were published in the French journal La Presse Médicale, highlighting the intersection of psychotropic substances and artistic creativity during the avant-garde period. This work contributes to both medical history and the evolution of fine arts.
Study at a glance
| Sample size | 2 |
|---|---|
| Population | two professional painters |
| Key finding | Marinescu documented the visual effects of mescaline on two painters, revealing significant influences on their color vision and artistic expression. |
Abstract
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. 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. 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. 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.