Art and medicine, a winning couple

By combining art and medicine, it is possible to obtain better care for the well-being of patients. This is the main object of art therapy which combines these two disciplines.

They have evolved independently of each other while remaining close enough for common practices to emerge. Driven by painting with painting therapy, or sculpture with sculpture therapy, medicine has been able to use the best treatment methods over the ages. The psychiatric hospital was a nexus of experimentation and care. Whether in pediatrics or gerontology, art is always profitable and a source of hope for patients.

The purpose of medicine is to preserve and care for people. Art addresses the emotions of the areas in which our senses intervene. Art and medicine are at first glance distant from each other, yet these two pillars of our cultures have a long common history.

Art and medicine, a long shared history

Medicine and art have frequently crossed paths throughout history. Artists and doctors often rubbed shoulders in the dissection rooms. (see The Anatomy Lesson of Doctor Tulp Rembrandt , 1632) — this work can be seen at the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague.

In a cave in the Ariège valley, paintings representing trepanation were found (3,000 years ago).

In ancient Egypt, the “ Papyrus of Ebers ” contained some 700 magical formulas. Considered a true work dated 1550 BC, it is kept in Leipzig in Germany.

Western medicine has its true origins in ancient Greece.

Hippocrates is the most famous doctor of this era. He left his name in the oath declaimed by all current students who become medical doctors. He is represented with Asclepius, the god of medicine, in an admirable mosaic visible at the Archaeological Museum of Kos. Hippocrates (450-377 BC)

Until the beginning of the 19th century, mentally ill people were locked up with criminals. It is to Doctor Philippe Pinel (1745-1826) that we owe the radical change of employing them in workshops.

In 1872, Ambroise Tardieu (1818-1879) wrote a forensic study on madness where he spoke of art as a possible therapy. It was at the beginning of the 20th century that works appeared which presented painting and drawing as a valuable aid to medicine. Hans Prinzhorn (1886-1933) was a brilliant defender. He studied art history before training to become a doctor. It constitutes a collection of 5,000 paintings created by mentally ill people. In 1922 he published “The Expression of Madness”. This book influenced many painters such as Max Ernst and Paul Klee .

Nowadays, there is no longer any need to prove the multiple beneficial relationships between art and medicine.

It was in 1979 that AFRATAPEM (French Association for Research and Applications of Techniques) was created. This research and teaching establishment is recognized throughout the world. It is at the origin of the first university diploma dedicated to art therapist profession.

At the crossroads of art and medicine: art therapy

Since the creation of psychiatric hospitals, doctors have understood the value of drawing and painting in the care of patients. Modeling and sculpture followed the same path. Thus a discipline was created, art therapy, which is the practice of art for therapeutic purposes.

Art and medicine, a cooperation that is taking shape.

Art has been used as a form of medicine for centuries. It has been shown to be more effective than most other forms of medicine in treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, and pain.

The healthcare sector has undergone considerable changes in recent decades. Thus, we have moved from a world of the traditional family doctor to a medical system that requires more technicality and skills. In this new, more sophisticated era, doctors must spend less time with their patients and more time reading journals, textbooks and scientific articles. This results in less human contact.

This change leads to a decrease in empathy among doctors. A study published in The BMJ shows that doctors were losing compassion for a more technical attitude.

According to a survey of 1,200 doctors from the American Academy of Family Physicians, 35% said they did not have enough time to spend directly with their patients.

Furthermore, a recent study carried out in an English hospital was published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine. It showed that artistic activities in hospitals can improve the quality of life of patients and staff.

In 1999, a multi-party convention “Culture in hospitals” was signed by the government of the time and health authorities. As part of the overall framework of opening the hospital to the outside world, a set of measures were recommended, including improving patient care through art. As well as the beautification of the living environment of hospital staff.

The Convention binds the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Culture. Furthermore, it encourages cooperation between local institutions, Regional Health Agencies [ARS], Regional Directorates of Cultural Affairs [DRAC] municipalities, regions and departments.

The intentions are laudable, but with hindsight, we must see that they are hardly followed by the facts. Despite everything, some positive initiatives should be noted:

With the AP-HP, the “ Louvre at the hospital” [meetings and conferences with patients].

Keith Haring’s “ ”, at the Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, AP-HP

MAHHSA “Museum of Art and History of Sainte-Anne Hospital” in Paris, directed by Dr. Anne-Marie Dubois. A doctor-psychiatrist, she directs this unique place which brings together numerous works from donation funds from psychiatric patients since the 19th century. The museum received the “Musée de France” label in 2016.

Art in pediatrics

Pediatric art can be used to help children with chronic or acute illnesses, their families, as well as health professionals. Paintings in pediatric wards can be a distraction for children. Thus, it reduces their anxiety and improves their mood.

These paintings also bring them comfort, they contribute to a welcoming environment “like at home”.

This involves differentiating art therapy, which promotes healing, from the aesthetic adaptation of living and care environments.

There is an extremely important benefit to including art in pediatric settings. Children develop better sensitivity to often heavy treatments.

Art therapists significantly help children with cancer. They allow them to better express their feelings and experiences, which is essential for healing. This is particularly the case for children unable to verbalize their discomfort due to their age, the language barrier or simply the fear of white coats.

Art for the ancients

At the other end of life, art can help improve the quality of life of retirement home residents by providing them with a more stimulating environment. It can also provide some form of social connection, which is important for many older adults.

There is no longer any need to demonstrate the enormous benefit of art therapy for older adults suffering from dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders. It stimulates the minds and helps them maintain their cognitive functions. Art for seniors is an expression of creativity that they often lack.

The large spaces of retirement homes are ideal for exhibitions. Thus, art also helps to bring a little color while providing a daily dose of inspiration for residents.

Remember that art is an expression of culture. It is a powerful link between generations. Training in art history or simply practicing are all ways to revitalize old people. And, if bridges are built with young artists, it is a considerable benefit for everyone, because the older ones also have a lot to contribute. They are blessed with a long life.

It's not just nursing homes that see the benefits of adding art to their facilities: hospital geriatric departments can benefit too. Not to mention, palliative or sick care services and their staff are under enormous psychological pressure.

What about specialized units for Alzheimer’s patients? Contrary to popular belief, this disease is not debilitating. In truth, some patients find the illness liberating in some ways. One of the most beautiful ways Alzheimer's disease can manifest itself is in the form of painting.

Alzheimer's disease is not just about "forgetting memories." Patients create their own reality. This leads them down paths in which they are able to express themselves through art rather than words, and this represents a wellness opportunity worth considering.

Some gentle therapy practices also accompany new trends in medical care. This is the case of sophrology and chromotherapy which focus on the beneficial action of colors.

Medicine and art as the recovery of a lost harmony

Could we be both an artist and a doctor? At first glance, this appears to be an illusion. However, the doctor could be enriched by an artistic conception. And, the artist, becomes aware of his caring nature for the soul and the body.

And, if medicine and art were one, like the body and the mind. The function of our mind is to separate the self and the other, but simultaneously, it also connects and merges the self and the other. Medical care and art are complementary to find balance.

The act of living itself is part of the overall activity of life. Mind and body, man and nature seem to be separate, but they are fundamentally linked while influencing each other. Because the natural world around us is constantly undergoing a process of change, our inner nature, the mind and body, is also constantly changing. Sometimes an imbalance is created that we can call “disease”. In 2020, a global outbreak occurred due to microscopic organisms. At the same time, climate change has reached a global tipping point and the balance of the natural world has collapsed. These global challenges cannot be overcome with medical and scientific ideas alone. Difficulties also exist for artists and are perceived by an artistic and aesthetic sensitivity that crosses disciplines. Art's mission is to repair not only individuals, but also society.

A bridge between art and medicine

Each of us lives by confronting the universe one-on-one. Even in a harsh natural environment, many of our predecessors repeatedly told us to live with a glimmer of hope in despair, and the dead passed them on to the living.

Ancestors create culture and art, and silently support our society. For all living beings to think together and live together, art is not only useful, but necessary to sustain life.

If we need the power of art as well as medicine and science to restore the integrity of the individual, why is that? People who live in the depth of their emotions open up to things through their creative sense. The role of art is to build a bridge between the current world in difficulty and a new world. It is on a different dimension that medicine acts. Its function is to heal the body, but also the mind. To do this, it needs to reconcile itself with the living nature of our planet.

Artists accomplish the difficult task of connecting people to each other through a common aesthetic.

We need the power of imagery, we need the power of art, to properly convey the energy stored within ourselves. There is medical power in many works of art.

From art to the hospital

Art is more than necessary in hospitals today. It has the potential to bring real well-being to both patients and medical staff. The integration of art in hospitals is accelerating with the practice of art therapy. Initiatives and artistic projects aimed at improving the comfort and well-being of patients are multiplying. The benefits of art seem to be recognized today.

Therapeutic art in psychiatry

In mental health centers, art therapy as a treatment in its own right. What is less known is that the works of sick people are frequently exhibited. Could madness have to do with art? Some think so, because some great artists have actually suffered from episodes of delusions. Vincent Van Gogh , for example, suffered from schizophrenia and was interned at Saint de Mausole, a former convent converted into an insane asylum. Louis Wain was diagnosed with autism and painted during his last ten years in a psychiatric hospital. However, mental health problems do not appear to be more present among artists than among ordinary people.

Art for decorating waiting rooms

Anxiety has become a major public health problem in our contemporary societies. It therefore seems important that medical centers participate in the fight against this scourge.

A waiting room should be welcoming, calm and relaxing. If this is not the case, it can make patients anxious. Additionally, boredom is one of the most common feelings people experience in these places. This is understandable, as patients frequently sit for long periods of time with nothing but their thoughts to keep them company.

In our article “ waiting room decoration ”, you will discover our best tips for arranging this space in such a way as to calm patients’ anxiety, thanks to a calming and pleasantly decorated place.

Related topics:

Painting therapy
Sophrology
Sculpture in art therapy
Chromotherapy : when colors heal