Art and Psychology

There are several ways in which art and psychology can function together. One is in the study of art and psychology, which studies how people react to works of art as well as how mental processes function to create art. The state of mind of the artist and of the person who enjoys the art, whether it is literature, music or a painting, all receive scrutiny in this study.

Another intersection of art and psychology is the use of art as a therapeutic activity. Art can help those suffering from trauma or mental illness, and can also help individuals work through specific problems in their lives.

> The Psychology of Art

The combination of art and the history of art was pioneered by Swiss art critic Heinrich Wölfflin. In 1886, he wrote a paper arguing that architecture could be analyzed from a psychological perspective rather than from the historical perspective favored at the time. Wilhelm Worringer, a German, also contributed to the early growth of this study by addressing impressionist art from a psychological perspective. Later, Carl Jung contributed to the field with his ideas that the collective unconscious could be expressed through art. Today, the psychology of art is less favored as a course of study, with both psychologists and art historians becoming less convinced of its relevance.

> Art as Therapy

Therapeutic art, on the other hand, remains an important element for many who practice psychotherapy. Art therapy allows the patient to express himself through art, usually drawing, painting, sculpture, or another form of visual art. Art therapy can be particularly useful when working with young children, who often can express themselves and their feelings more readily through art than through language, since their language skill are not highly developed. Children who have suffered trauma or abuse often express their pain and fear through art when they are unable or unwilling to speak about it.

Taken together, art and psychology can present a unique way to see into the human mind, whether the study is focused on an individual's healing or on art in general.