Unveiling Grief as an emotion through the Language of Art

Painter Claude Monet's piece "Camille on Her Deathbed" depicts the death of his late wife, and the feelings of pain, grief, depression, and loss he felt. In the painting, Camille looks to be at peace but the picture lacks color which evokes a sense of peace peeking through sorrow and death. Camille blends into the canvas as if she is all but gone except for the glimpse of color- flowers on her chest- that stands out. 

"Camille on Her Deathbed" was significant to Claude Monet as the painting is an expression of his grief. The artwork was created as an homage to his loving wife, Camille, who died young. Monet's grief finds a visual language in "Camille on Her Deathbed," a method to externalize his personal agony. The painting is both a significant expression of his own grief and an indication to the power of art as a source of catharsis. Monet used the painting to express his loss and keep his wife's memories alive.

Grief Awareness Day

National Grief Awareness Day is observed annually on August 30th. It is a day dedicated to spread awareness about the importance of supporting and acknowledging the people who are experiencing grief. This day serves as a reminder to people to offer empathy and compassion to individuals who have experienced loss. Grief is a strong, sometimes overwhelming emotion for people who are experiencing it. There are some therapeutic ways that can help the bereaved individuals to cope with their grief, one of them is indulging in the different forms of artistic expression. Art acts as a language of expression for the grieving.

Grief’s Impact on Individuals and Society

Grief can have a profound impact on individuals and society as a whole. On an individual level, it can lead to feelings of sadness, emptiness, and even physical symptoms such as loss of appetite or difficulty sleeping. It can also affect one's ability to function in daily life and maintain relationships. On a societal level, grief can contribute to increased healthcare costs, decreased productivity, and strained social support systems. Attitudes, beliefs, and practices regarding death and grief are characterized and described according to the multicultural context, myth, mysteries, and mores that describe cross-cultural relationships. Even though there are different mourning customs, traditions, and behavioral ways that people express their grief, specific to their culture, intrapersonal grieving experiences are universal.

Given the significant impact of grief, it is crucial to raise awareness and provide support for those who need it, whether it be through counseling services, support groups, or education programs. By acknowledging and addressing grief, we can help individuals navigate their emotions and find healthy ways to cope. Furthermore, encouraging open dialogues about grieving can help lessen the stigma associated with it, allowing people to seek support without fear of being judged. Finally, we can assist individuals and communities heal and thrive in the aftermath of loss by providing support and understanding.

What is Art Therapy?

          Art therapy is a technique based on the notion that creative expression can promote healing and mental well-being. Doctors noticed that people suffering from mental illnesses frequently expressed themselves via drawings and other artworks, prompting many to investigate the use of art as a healing technique. Since then, art has been an essential aspect of the therapeutic sector, with certain diagnostic and therapy procedures incorporating it.

People experiencing grief can also utilize art as a method of catharsis and expression of the strong emotions felt. Grief art can be about freestyling, or it could also be a guided activity with an art therapist.

Grief Art

            Each person's grief is unique, and there is no single way to cope with it. Over time, you change and adapt to the loss. But along with the appropriate counseling and medications, there are creative tools to help support the bereavement process. 

Engaging in creative activities during bereavement may improve mindful attention, which has been found to improve our capacity to regulate our moods by boosting those all-important connections between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex in our brain. Creative activities may also help regulate the highs and lows of grief by bringing feelings that are repressed or difficult to express out in the open and making them more accessible for processing.

Different Art forms and their therapeutic value

WRITING:
Writing about a loss or trauma helps the writer tell a story about their grief and has been found to improve unhealthy symptoms, such as intrusive thoughts, emotional numbness, an inability to trust others, and suicidal ideation. Writing can help people express those unfiltered thoughts and emotions on paper for a releasing effect, or it can help pay homage to your loved one by writing about their life, stories, or favorite quotes.
MUSIC:
Music is also healing; research shows that music therapy and songwriting can help the bereaved process their grief. Music and its emotive qualities may aid in identifying and expressing loss in a less invasive manner. When verbal communication surrounding personal subjects may be difficult, music in a supportive environment can help externalize inner emotions through projective methods. Music has the unique ability to evoke memories of specific time and place, as musical memories are some of our most deeply rooted and helps in reminiscence. Research also shows that engaging in active music making and singing releases endorphins, which consequently lowers the stress hormone cortisol. That means indulging in making music or singing may help to contribute to an overall improved mood. 
VISUAL MODALITIES:
Visual arts therapy may also have a modest effect on alleviating grief symptoms such as general distress, reduced job or academic performance, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. The visual arts are so often utilized as or adapted to bereavement interventions that they have been described as “common place” in grief therapy. The American Art Therapy Association defines visual art as “drawing, painting, sculpture, and other art forms”. Cross Disciplinary publications elucidate further examples of visual art and include printmaking, crafts (e.g., collage, scrapbooking), graffiti, photography, and ceramics. The visual arts are also used for grief processing outside of clinical practice. The creation of visual art in reaction to death can be found across cultures as an expression of loss, love, and remembrance. Visual memorials are created at the individual, family, and community levels and can assist in the commemoration of the lives lost and in the healing of those affected. 
The arts can also help the bereaved sustain their bonds with the deceased and make meaning of the loss. Research shows that those who find meaning in loss have greater subjective well-being and even immune system functioning than those who don’t find meaning. 
Artist Expression on Grief
VISUAL MODALITIES:
In 1998, Tracy Emin created a video work a stone’s throw from Munch’s home in Åsgårdstrand. In this work, she lifts her head and lets out a scream for almost a minute. She is heartbroken and troubled by the events of recent years, not least the terminated pregnancies she experienced in 1992, and the physical and mental strain she endured following her miscarriage in 1998. The work was named Homage to Edvard Munch and All My Dead Children.

Marc Chagall was a Russian Jew who created art expressing grief over the loss of his wife, Bella. Chagall’s paintings reflect a love for Bella and for his Jewish culture, a longing for his home in Vitebsk, and the hope for a future reunion with Bella in heaven.The Wedding, 1944 - Marc Chagall

Frida Kahlo was a Mexican nationalist who confronted her own mortality and also experienced the loss of her mother, father, and children during miscarriages. Kahlo utilized bloody Aztec-inspired imagery, the personification of death, and the colorful expression of the Day of the Dead to illustrate her physical and emotional pain. The Dream (The Bed) 1940- Frida Kahlo

Motoi Yamamoto is a contemporary artist who lost his sister to brain cancer in 1994. Yamamoto makes large-scale salt installations in a meditative process that reflects his Japanese Buddhist culture. Return to the Sea: Saltworks

Angel of Grief or the Weeping Angel is an 1894 sculpture by William Wetmore Story for the grave of his wife Emelyn Story at the Protestant Cemetery in Rome. The statue is of an angel, sculpted to lean over the grave marker as if overwhelmed by grief.

MUSIC:

My Heart Will Go On” By Celine Dion: This iconic song from the hit movie Titanic expresses the idea of your departed lover still being with you as long as you keep the memory of them in your heart.

James Taylor wrote the song Fire And Rain after the death of a beloved friend. His song focuses more on the grieving aspect, not only from his close friend’s death but also from the seeming betrayal by his family of not being told of his death to keep him focused on his career.

Eric Clapton's 1992 hit Tears In Heaven was born out of unbearably sad circumstances. The song is a tribute to love's enduring power and a lament for the death of Clapton's four-year-old son, Conor, who died on March 20, 1991, when he accidentally slipped from the 53rd-floor window of a New York City apartment building.

“I Will Not Say Goodbye” By Danny Gokey is a song that reminds us that it's okay to hold on and grieve in the way that we need to.

WRITINGS:

Alfred Tennyson, In Memoriam A. H. H. : It was written over a period of 17 years, from 1833 to 1850. Over the course of 133 cantos (sections into which certain long poems are divided), it explores Alfred Lord Tennyson's profound grief at the death of his close friend, Arthur Henry Hallam.

'On the Death of Anne Brontë' by Charlotte Brontë: This poem describes the poet's grief over her beloved sister's death and her relief that Anne's suffering has ended.

Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala: In 2004, at a beach resort on the coast of Sri Lanka, Sonali Deraniyagala and her family - parents, husband, sons - were swept away by a tsunami.  Only Sonali survived to tell their tale. This is her account of the nearly incomprehensible event and its aftermath.

Death Be Not Proud (P.S.) by John J Gunther: Johnny Gunther was only seventeen years old when he died of a brain tumor. During the months of his illness, everyone near him was unforgettably impressed by his level-headed courage, his wit and quiet friendliness, and, above all, his unfaltering patience through times of despair. This deeply moving book is a father's memoir of a brave, intelligent, and spirited boy.

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion: From one of America’s iconic writers, a stunning book of electric honesty and passion. This book is a poignant memoir about loss and grief. It tells the deeply personal story of Joan Didion's experiences with the life-threatening illnesses of her daughter and the death of her husband.

Further Reading: The Expression of Grief and the Power of Art by NEIL STRAUSS published in New York Times

 

Conclusion

Art provides a unique platform for individuals to convey their emotions and navigate through the complexities of grief. Through various artistic mediums such as painting, writing, or music, people can find comfort and healing by externalizing their inner turbulence. Additionally, art can be a powerful tool for raising awareness about the different stages of grief and the various emotions associated with loss. This can help society as a whole to better understand and empathize with those who are grieving.

Art as a means to express grief helps create a soothing experience and can be quite relaxing. Art provides a place of refuge for grieving souls in the delicate strokes of a brush, the candid expression of a photograph, or the heartfelt verses of a poem. It is a sanctuary where emotions find expression and the immense pain can be transformed into beauty. Grieving people find comfort, connection, and the profound realization that beauty can emerge even in the midst of loss by the acceptance of artistic catharsis.

Although these artistic activities may provide some relief, they aren’t a substitute for professional support. If you’re having a difficult time and feel grief is impacting one or more aspects of your life, consider reaching out to a professional counselor or therapist for help.

References

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Sima, R. (2020, May 21). Can The Arts Help Us Heal Our Grief? International Arts + Mind Lab: The Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics. Retrieved August 20, 2023, from https://www.artsandmindlab.org/can-the-arts-help-us-heal-our-grief/

Why Art Can Offer Us Catharsis and Healing. (2021, December 30). Shondaland. Retrieved August 20, 2023, from https://www.shondaland.com/live/body/a38526562/why-art-can-offer-us-catharsis-and-healing/

How Art Therapy Works. (2022, November 8). Verywell Mind. Retrieved August 23, 2023, from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-art-therapy-2795755

Sima, R. (2020, May 21). Can The Arts Help Us Heal Our Grief? International Arts + Mind Lab: The Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics. Retrieved August 23, 2023, from http://www.artsandmindlab.org/can-the-arts-help-us-heal-our-grief/

Palliative Care Editorial Board, P. S. (2022, October 18). Grief, Bereavement, and Coping With Loss (PDQ®) - PDQ Cancer Information Summaries - NCBI Bookshelf. Grief, Bereavement, and Coping With Loss (PDQ®) - PDQ Cancer Information Summaries - NCBI Bookshelf. Retrieved August 24, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK66052/

Parkinson, M. (2020, October 27). MUSIC THERAPY AND BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT - Wellington Music Therapy. MUSIC THERAPY AND BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT - Wellington Music Therapy. Retrieved August 24, 2023, from https://wellingtonmusictherapyservices.com/music-therapy-and-bereavement-support/

Weiskittle. (2019). The Efficacy of a Group Visual Art Bereavement Intervention With Older Adults. The Efficacy of a Group Visual Art Bereavement Intervention with Older Adults. Retrieved August 24, 2023, from https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6988&context=etd

Gilpin. (2020, November 20). 10 Works on Grief and Loneliness by Tracey Emin and Edvard Munch | Blog | Royal Academy of Arts. 10 works on grief and loneliness by Tracey Emin and Edvard Munch | Blog | Royal Academy of Arts. Retrieved August 24, 2023, from https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/10-works-grief-loneliness-tracey-emin-edvard-munch

HALEY. (2015, June 4). 32 Books About Death and Grief. Whats your Grief. Retrieved August 24, 2023, from https://whatsyourgrief.com/32-books-about-grief/

Muller, R. T. (2022, August 8). Camille on Her Deathbed - the Trauma and Mental Health Report. The Trauma & Mental Health Report. Retrieved August 24, 2023, from https://trauma.blog.yorku.ca/2022/08/camille-on-her-deathbed/

By - Drishti Haldia (MSc. Applied Psychology, Sem -1)