Antoni Gaudí – Loneliness of a Genius

Abstract

Antoni Gaudí was a Catalan architect: multi-talented, innovative, creative, considered as a genius. What does it mean to be a genius? Whether genius must be condemned to loneliness? He is a person endowed with exceptional abilities, and his way of perceiving and acting in the world goes beyond what would be considered normal, logic or acceptable. Usually, it is not easy for him to function in society, among not-so-illustrious people, where often he has a special role to play. Looking at Gaudí’s life we can see his struggles with the administration, with the clients of his projects which not always were realized and with the contractors doubting the strength of his constructions. His buildings often caused emotional reactions and criticism. They were an incentive for the press and caricaturists, just like their creator. Did Gaudí feel lonely? Or maybe the loneliness of genius is not like we comprehend or define it?