Page 67 - Studio International - July August 1973

Hans Prinzhorn
A Contribution to the Artistry
Psychology and
of the Mentally Ill
Psychopathology of
Configuration
Contents
By Hans Prinzhorn Introduction
Translated from the Second Theoretical Part
German Edition The Psychological
by E. von Brockdorff, Foundations of
The Library, Hartwick College, Pictorial Configuration
Oneonta, N.Y. Metaphysical meaning of con-
With an Introduction by J. L. Foy figuration part of the act itself.
The expressive urge. The urge to
play. The ornamental urge. The
With 187 figures ordering tendency. The tendency
(16 in color) - to imitate. The need for symbols.
XXIII, 274 pages. 1972 Eidetic image and configuration.
Cloth DM 62,40i approx 8.80
The Pictures
Prices are subject to change Psychiatric foreword. Unobjec-
without notice tive, unordered scribbles. Playful
drawings with a predominant
ordering tendency. Playful
drawings with a predominant
copying tendency. Visual fantasy. the production of perfectly
Increased significance and sym-
bolism. Ten schizophrenic artists'.
Results and Problems
Summary of the observations
made in the pictures themselves:
Characteristics of the scribblings colored illustrations used by the
and the simplest drawings;
Characteristics of configuration
in the more complicated pictures;
Psychic basis of the expressive
Springer-Verlag need. Areas of comparison. The
Berlin nature of schizophrenic con-
Heidelberg figuration. Schizophrenic con-
figuration and art. The schizo-
New York phrenic outlook and our age.
Munchen • London • Paris
Sydney • Tokyo • Wien Summary.
From the reviews
of the German edition
"When first published in 1922,
this book was almost the first
attempt to analyse art works of
the psychotics. This new edition
shows that the work is still very
important as a reference book
and outstanding in the study of
art by mental patients. The repro-
duced material is exceptional
and includes many color repro-
ductions. The book also offers a
survey of the relevant literature
until the time in question ... The
new psychoanalytical approach,
exploring the unconscious, has •
given new understanding to the
meaning of any artistic produc-
tion. This could be applied to
normal artists as well as to that
of psychotics . ."
The British Journal of Psychiatry
"In this beautifully printed volume
are many black and white and
author to clarify his discussion
of the role of expressive artistic
production in the understanding
of various psychiatric
disturb-ances. The reprinting of this
classical work by Prinzhorn
may permit some of his ideas
to infiltrate the thinking of a
larger number of students and
Psychological Reports (USA)
57