ABSTRACT
When paintings do not apparently contain narratives, another way of inferring meaning is to find out about the artists who painted them. To a greater or lesser extent, the life of a painter is art. Whether or not it is overtly autobiographical, every work of art reflects the inner core of the person who produced it. Artists’ lives are often colourful, but then so are the lives of some patients. They contend with fundamental issues that we all have to face. In attempting to understand what they are trying to communicate, we can learn more about ourselves through our reactions, and thus enhance our ability to understand others.
