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What: An Evening With . . .
Who: Beverly Fourier
When: Friday
Fees: $15.00, members; $20.00, nonmembers; $10.00, full-time students and seniors over 65
The paintings of these two symbolist artists are psychologically revealing, showing their inner transformation through life. Both artists had difficult childhoods and were examples of what Kathrin Asper has described as "abandoned children within." Redon, one of the earliest of the symbolist painters, eventually overcame his insecurities to become a successful artist with a happy family life. This is illustrated by his earlier drawings of dark snaky creatures, followed by his later paintings of brightly colored flowers and butterflies as he worked through his "chrysalis" period to a successful individuation. Redon's painting entitled The Chrysalis contains hidden, tortured faces and is reminiscent of Marion Woodman's discussion of the chrysalis stage we go through when we are struggling to individuate.
In contrast, Gauguin did many paintings of himself as the Christ. These can be compared with Jung's writings on the Christ figure as the inner Self. One of Gauguin's most intriguing pieces of art illustrates his transformation from a financially successful stockbroker, a career that did not feed his soul, into a starving artist. It is a small wooden coffin with the artist's body inside, which he sculpted for his wife before abandoning his family to pursue his art work. He later traveled to Tahiti, in a metaphorical and literal search for paradise. There he painted some of his most famous works of art, but success eluded him and he died an unhappy man. Yet, his paintings of this exotic paradise are now worth a fortune. These artworks and life stories can lead us into a discussion of the lifelong struggle to individuate, our own chrysalis periods, and the sacrifices that are sometimes made for the sake of an inner calling.
Beverly Fourier has been a student of Carl Jung's psychology since the early 1990s. She is a frequent contributor to the Jung Society's Wisewoman Group. In recent years, she has made a special study of the images of women in art and myths through the ages. Her two graduate degrees are in Counseling and Human Development, and in Education.
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