Abstract

The field of art therapy is still relatively new in comparison to other professional fields of mental health. The profession was influenced and developed by figures in the fields of art education, visual art, and psychoanalysis. Erik H. Erikson is a figure who was trained in all three of these areas; however it seems that contemporary art therapists are unaware of how valuable his life and written contributions are to the field of art therapy. The aim of this research paper is to demonstrate why the life and work of Erikson remains a useful resource to the current field of art therapy. This paper explores the historical context surrounding the life of Erikson, his training in various fields, his difficult experience trying to choose an identity between being an artist and a psychoanalyst, and the written works that he contributed later in his life. As well, Joan Erikson's influence on his work has been examined. Following a historical-documentary methodology, this research has been conducted by synthesizing various sources on topics such as: German Expressionism; art education; psychoanalysis; the history of art therapy; the life and work of Erik Erikson; and the life and work of Joan Erikson. This research demonstrates that Erikson's training and experiential knowledge in visual art influenced his clinical observations and written works throughout his life. By examining the ways in which he perceived his work through the eyes of an artist, current art therapists may be inspired to utilize his achievements as a model for their own practice