In the August edition of Muses – the arts blog from BJPsych International – Dr Tim McInerny, Pictures Editor, BJPsych International introduces Gemma Anderson, the artist whose portrait is on the cover of the August edition of BJPsych International. We are grateful for the consent of both Gemma Anderson and her subject, Ella.

Cover Artwork: ‘Ella’ by Gemma Anderson

This portrait is from the series Portraits:  Patients and Psychiatrists by UK artist Gemma Anderson.

A portrait is to some extent a collaboration between artist and subject. Gemma Anderson took this concept to a new level in her series of etchings of eight patients and their eight treating psychiatrists.

She draws from life directly on to a copper plate. Similar to heraldic portraits, Gemma represents her subjects with objects, plants and animals associated with mental health and the history of medicinal plants in psychiatry.

Gemma commences her portrait by interviewing her sitter, hearing their story, learning about their favourite objects or most important experiences, such that the finished portrait is reflective of the interior world of the subject and not just the surface details of face, attitude, and demeanour.

This image of Ella links the physical and internal worlds of the subject, their history, interests, and emotional life.

For the patient, the portrait attempts to explore their mental state, the circumstances of their illness, and restores their fragmented sense of self. For some patients this might be the first time anyone has shown an interest in them that wasn’t purely medical. For the psychiatrist, it is an opportunity to explore the therapeutic nature of their relationship with their patients. A moment of turning the spotlight on to themselves and their skill as clinicians.

Each sitter is identified by their first name with no reference to their status as doctor or patient. This makes us curious about who is unwell and who is the healer. In doing so we question our attitudes to mental illness. We become aware of our own vulnerability, that we all carry within us the seeds of mental fragility.

Ella is a psychiatrist.

Gemma Anderson’s portrait series can be viewed at –

https://www.gemma-anderson.co.uk/image/portraits-patients-and-pschiatrists/.

Welcome to Muses – the arts blog from BJPsych International. Launched in March 2022, this new blog aims to highlight international art and artists, particularly from low-and-middle-income countries, with a focus on mental health. We welcome submissions for consideration, such as, comments on artwork, visual arts, literature, drama, films, podcasts, and videos. Do have a look at the instructions for blog authors for details on how to submit. General enquiries about the blog: BJPInternational@rcpsych.ac.uk .

Professor David Skuse, Editor-in-Chief, BJPsych International