8 Innovators Who Made History During Quarantine

1. Issac Newton: In 1665, London was experiencing its last major epidemic of the bubonic plague, and Issac Newton was a student at Cambridge back then. Newton had to retreat to Woolsthorpe Manor where he spent 18 months and came up with his theory of gravity.

2. Frida Kahlo: The renowned Mexican artist is known not only for her artistic masterpieces, but for enduring serious misfortunes throughout her life. She contracted polio at the age of six which forced her to stay in bed for a lengthy period. 12 years later, Kahlo suffered serious injuries from an accident and as a result she was forced to stay in her bed again. But some curses are blessings in disguise. Kahlo discovered her passion for art during her healing period and painted her first self-portrait while in recovery using the mirror above her bed for reference!

3. William Shakespeare: There have been rumors all over the Internet recently claiming that William Shakespeare wrote “King Lear” while in quarantine. Although it is challenging to prove that Shakespeare was ever in quarantine, no one can deny that London was shut down throughout some of his most productive times due to bubonic plague outbreaks. It’s worth mentioning that Shakespeare’s “Venus and Adonis” along with other poems were written during this critical period.

4. Victor Hugo: Did you know that the French author completed his masterpiece “Les Miserables” while he was in exile? Well now you know! Vitor Hugo was a vocal critic of Napoleon III and that led him to exile to avoid the punishment. In the 20 years he spent away from his home in France, Hugo wrote 3 books of poetry and completed one of the French literature masterpieces “Les Miserables”.

5. Edvard Munch: Munch, who is known for “The Scream” painting, painted the “Self-Portrait with the Spanish Flu” while he was sick and isolated. Fortunately, he didn’t die from the flu, and continued producing works of art for 25 years after that.

6. Simone de Beauvoir: Despite losing her teaching job during the Nazi occupation of Paris, the well-known French fiminist helped out the French Resistance within the city AND produced several literary works. Her most popular and relevant was her only play: “Les Bouches inutiles” (the useless mouths) which was clearly inspired by the Nazi regime.

7. Salvator Rosa: The famous painting “Human Frailty” was created in the midst of a plague outbreak that struck Italy. Its creator, Salvator Rosa, had lost 3 children to this plague. His masterpiece which was produced in 1656 is believed to be inspired by his son’s death.

8. Giovanni Boccaccio: Boccaccio is known for producing work during the Black Death plague that struck Florence in 1384 and killed his father and stepmother. In the years after the outbreak, he produced his famous novella “The Decameron”.