Date of Award

Spring 5-2006

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

EVMS School of Health Professions

Program/Concentration

Art Therapy

Committee Director

Matthew Bernier

Committee Member

George Tussing

Committee Member

Randy Vick

Abstract

The statement that art in itself is healing may not always be true as demonstrated by the destructive, often short lives of many artists. This may appear to contradict the fundamental belief, held by many art therapists, that art is healing. Studying the fields of creativity and art history could help understand this apparent contradiction.

One way to combine the studies of creativity, the healing power of art, and art history is through the practice of psychobiography. The psychobiographer who studies the life of a prominent artist combines various psychological approaches with the literary records, art history, and visual evidence from the artwork to produce an in-depth, valuable piece of research for the field of art therapy (Adams, 1993; Gantt, 1986; Rothenberg, 1990).

This current study examined the lives of three artists: Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, Mark Rothko, and Henry Darger. Data came from biographies, autobiographies, personal letters, and artwork. These data were analyzed using two psychological approaches.

Results found through these three psychobiographies illustrated the complicated nature of creating art. In the case of Toulouse-Lautrec and Rothko, creating art allowed each artist to gain success and prestige in the public eye. Upon closer examination of their lives, the act of creating often isolated each man and held them in a self-destructive cycle which inevitably, through substance abuse and/or suicide, led to their demise. Although Henry Darger’s life and art appeared more bizarre, he may have been the most successful at using art as healing. Although he too was isolated from the world, he used art to enrich his life.

By studying the lives of Toulouse-Lautrec, Rothko, and Darger, it was found that art may have been healing to these individuals at times, but failed to heal in other circumstances. Such a study allows art therapists to learn how life situations, family constellations, and past histories can allow or prevent art to be healing. Although art can sometimes be healing, this is often in the context of a therapeutic relationship with a trained clinician.

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DOI

10.25777/55y7-f636

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