Se analizan los datos patobiográficos de 4 geniales artistas del siglo xx −Modigliani, Matisse, Portinari y Rebeca Horn− que vieron truncadas sus carreras artísticas en algún momento debido a enfermedades profesionales ocasionadas por los materiales que utilizaban. En el caso de Matisse, por manipulación debido a su propio temperamento de las cicatrices de una intervención quirúrgica. Sin embargo, lucharon contra tal contratiempo y su superación les permitió hallar nuevas vías de expresión artística para encauzar su creatividad.

The patobiographic data of 4 great xx century artists −Modigliani, Matisse, Portinari and Rebecca Horn− are reviewed. Their artistic careers were cut short at some moment due to the professional diseases they suffered in relation with the materials used in their works. In the case of Matisse, this was due to his own temperament by manipulation of the scars from surgery. However, they fought against such impediments and when they overcame them, they were able to find new ways of artistic expression to channel their creativity.