Comments on: In the realm of psychology (or art therapy) what does a painting of a person with no face mean? http://thetic.info/psychology-and-therapy/in-the-realm-of-psychology-or-art-therapy-what-does-a-painting-of-a-person-with-no-face-mean Health and Psychology Resources Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:08:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: see_ya http://thetic.info/psychology-and-therapy/in-the-realm-of-psychology-or-art-therapy-what-does-a-painting-of-a-person-with-no-face-mean/comment-page-1#comment-434 see_ya Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:37:59 +0000 http://thetic.info/psychology-and-therapy/in-the-realm-of-psychology-or-art-therapy-what-does-a-painting-of-a-person-with-no-face-mean#comment-434 its a cultural thing. if u notice that kind of art is common in caribbean paintings and/or dolls. what it resembles is that people tend to notice immediately the face of things, but they avoid painting their faces so people would appreciate the cultural side of it. for example: the dress, costume, the act that they may be performing in the picture frame.<br><b>References : </b><br> its a cultural thing.
if u notice that kind of art is common in caribbean paintings and/or dolls. what it resembles is that people tend to notice immediately the face of things, but they avoid painting their faces so people would appreciate the cultural side of it. for example: the dress, costume, the act that they may be performing in the picture frame.
References :

]]> By: Bradley P http://thetic.info/psychology-and-therapy/in-the-realm-of-psychology-or-art-therapy-what-does-a-painting-of-a-person-with-no-face-mean/comment-page-1#comment-433 Bradley P Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:19:59 +0000 http://thetic.info/psychology-and-therapy/in-the-realm-of-psychology-or-art-therapy-what-does-a-painting-of-a-person-with-no-face-mean#comment-433 If I recall correctly, it means some sort of dehumanization or depersonalization. The person being stripped of their face--whoever he or she is--is being rendered as an object. What that means would depend on the context of the rest of the painting. Such as: Is this the way the client paints people in general, or is it just one or two specific people? Or is it just the client him/herself? Does the de-facing happen violently, or does it occur as part of an otherwise peaceful, non-dissonant scene? Does the de-facing seem intentional, as if the client were trying to use perspective and render someone from a distance (some folks who *aren't* mentally ill have problems with drawing and painting perspective)? Or is it more of a compulsive theme or trope? ^_^ I know....pardon the overly simple, layman-analysis thing here. You've likely looked into all of these things and more. My apologies. You get the point though? Rendering a person as an object can mean a *Lot* of different things depending on the context within which it takes place. I hope this was helpful...thanks for your time. Edit: Ok then....just on a superficial level, I'd say your client was feeling lost. Being adrift in chaos, left *alone* to deal with his/her miseries (whether it's true or not, that's what is on the client's mind). The defacing in context is a red flag too--it means, possibly, that the client feels *institutionalized*, like he/she is just a pawn or object *of the system*, which would signal a *serious* external locus of control. The client just doesn't feel like he/she owns *anything* or is powerful over *anything*, that instead the "powers that be" completely *dominate* his/her life. Helplessness and powerlessness, in Plain English. I don't think I have to mention that if this persists long-term there could be a self-harm or suicide risk. Oops.<br><b>References : </b><br>Some 15+ years of experience as someone with depression and other issues....so I've seen therapy from more different points of view than usual you could say. That's the polite version. If I recall correctly, it means some sort of dehumanization or depersonalization. The person being stripped of their face–whoever he or she is–is being rendered as an object.

What that means would depend on the context of the rest of the painting. Such as: Is this the way the client paints people in general, or is it just one or two specific people? Or is it just the client him/herself? Does the de-facing happen violently, or does it occur as part of an otherwise peaceful, non-dissonant scene? Does the de-facing seem intentional, as if the client were trying to use perspective and render someone from a distance (some folks who *aren't* mentally ill have problems with drawing and painting perspective)? Or is it more of a compulsive theme or trope?

^_^ I know….pardon the overly simple, layman-analysis thing here. You've likely looked into all of these things and more. My apologies. You get the point though? Rendering a person as an object can mean a *Lot* of different things depending on the context within which it takes place.

I hope this was helpful…thanks for your time. Edit: Ok then….just on a superficial level, I'd say your client was feeling lost. Being adrift in chaos, left *alone* to deal with his/her miseries (whether it's true or not, that's what is on the client's mind). The defacing in context is a red flag too–it means, possibly, that the client feels *institutionalized*, like he/she is just a pawn or object *of the system*, which would signal a *serious* external locus of control. The client just doesn't feel like he/she owns *anything* or is powerful over *anything*, that instead the "powers that be" completely *dominate* his/her life. Helplessness and powerlessness, in Plain English. I don't think I have to mention that if this persists long-term there could be a self-harm or suicide risk. Oops.
References :
Some 15+ years of experience as someone with depression and other issues….so I've seen therapy from more different points of view than usual you could say. That's the polite version.

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