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A Freudian Perspective on Indian Painting: Manifestation of the Artist’s Unconscious Mind


Authors : Dr. Muktanand Nawghare

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 6 - June


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/43rx8brn

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/y4mnmv5b

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jun1743

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.


Abstract : The relationship between the human mind, emotional processes, and artistic creation has remained a significant area of study in both psychology and art. Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory introduced a new perspective for understanding the role of inner emotions, psychological tensions, fears, memories, repressed impulses, and creative expression in artistic production. The present research paper attempts to interpret the visual manifestation of the artist’s psychological world through a Freudian perspective. It examines the influence of dreams, symbolism, colour language, psychological experiences, and creative processes on the production of paintings. The study explores how painting functions as a symbolic expression of the artist’s inner emotions, psychological conflicts, and emotional experiences through the application of Freud’s psychoanalytic concepts. Particular emphasis has been given to the concepts of the unconscious mind, sublimation, dream analysis, and symbolism in understanding the process of artistic creation. Furthermore, the paper investigates selected artworks of major Indian modern artists such as Tyeb Mehta, Francis Newton Souza, Bikash Bhattacharjee, Jogen Chowdhury, and Ganesh Pyne from a psychoanalytic perspective. The study seeks to interpret the symbolic representation of psychological tension, fear, insecurity, loneliness, social pressure, rebellion, sexuality, and inner conflict reflected in their artworks. The findings of the study suggest that painting is not merely a medium of visual aesthetics but also a powerful expression of the artist’s inner experiences, psychological conditions, and creative energy. The study further highlights that the Freudian approach continues to be a significant and useful framework for understanding the relationship between art and psychology, particularly in the context of symbolic expression and artistic creativity. The Freudian approach continues to be a significant framework for understanding art and psychology (Freud, 1923; Jung, 1964).

Keywords : Freudian Perspective, Psychoanalysis, Unconscious Mind, Painting, Symbolism, Dream Analysis, Sublimation, Art Psychology.

References :

  1. Freud, S. (1923). The ego and the id. Hogarth Press.
  2. Freud, S. (1930). Civilization and its discontents. Hogarth Press.
  3. Freud, S. (2010). The interpretation of dreams (J. Strachey, Trans.). Basic Books. (Original work published 1899).
  4. Breton, A. (1972). Manifestoes of surrealism. University of Michigan Press.
  5. Dalmia, Y. (2001). The making of modern Indian art: The Progressives. Oxford University Press.
  6. Gombrich, E. H. (1995). The story of art (16th ed.). Phaidon Press.
  7. Huo, C., & Ju, F. (2025). The formation of the Freudian universal symbol: A historical perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1682371
  8. Jagati, S. S., & Shukla, A. (2023). Self-portraits regarded as the very manifestation of psychological evaluation. ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v4.i1.2023.378
  9. Jung, C. G. (1964). Man and his symbols. Doubleday.
  10. Kapur, G. (2000). When was modernism: Essays on contemporary cultural practice in India. Tulika Books.
  11. Khanna, S. (2011). Tyeb Mehta: Ideas, images, exchanges. Marg Publications.
  12. Mitter, P. (2007). Indian art. Oxford University Press.
  13. Nema, N. (2017). Psychology in art: The influence of Freudian theories on surrealist art. International Journal of Indian Psychology. https://doi.org/10.25215/0404.119
  14. Sharma, T., & Parvez, S. (2022). Childhood experiences in paintings: Expressions by contemporary Indian artists. ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v3.i2.2022.184
  15. Yao, C., Tian, T., Gao, C., Zhao, S., & Liu, Q. (2022). Visual performance of painting colors based on psychological factors. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.966571

The relationship between the human mind, emotional processes, and artistic creation has remained a significant area of study in both psychology and art. Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory introduced a new perspective for understanding the role of inner emotions, psychological tensions, fears, memories, repressed impulses, and creative expression in artistic production. The present research paper attempts to interpret the visual manifestation of the artist’s psychological world through a Freudian perspective. It examines the influence of dreams, symbolism, colour language, psychological experiences, and creative processes on the production of paintings. The study explores how painting functions as a symbolic expression of the artist’s inner emotions, psychological conflicts, and emotional experiences through the application of Freud’s psychoanalytic concepts. Particular emphasis has been given to the concepts of the unconscious mind, sublimation, dream analysis, and symbolism in understanding the process of artistic creation. Furthermore, the paper investigates selected artworks of major Indian modern artists such as Tyeb Mehta, Francis Newton Souza, Bikash Bhattacharjee, Jogen Chowdhury, and Ganesh Pyne from a psychoanalytic perspective. The study seeks to interpret the symbolic representation of psychological tension, fear, insecurity, loneliness, social pressure, rebellion, sexuality, and inner conflict reflected in their artworks. The findings of the study suggest that painting is not merely a medium of visual aesthetics but also a powerful expression of the artist’s inner experiences, psychological conditions, and creative energy. The study further highlights that the Freudian approach continues to be a significant and useful framework for understanding the relationship between art and psychology, particularly in the context of symbolic expression and artistic creativity. The Freudian approach continues to be a significant framework for understanding art and psychology (Freud, 1923; Jung, 1964).

Keywords : Freudian Perspective, Psychoanalysis, Unconscious Mind, Painting, Symbolism, Dream Analysis, Sublimation, Art Psychology.

Paper Submission Last Date
31 - July - 2026

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