War god (artwork)

1 painting by Psychiatric patient 1 "Heinz" of a figure in profile on the left, wearing traditional Chinese dress and breathing fire. On the right are fighter planes dropping bombs, and on the ground are a group of tanks moving towards a huge fire. Notes written by Wellcome staff during conversations with Rita Simon between 1995 and 1997 question if this depicts the Battle of Britain. Rita Simon noted that the image "shows new space and emotions, totally different style". The picture is reproduced and discussed in The symbolism of style page 189 and figure 11.10, page 191.

The title has been taken from wording written on the verso. In The symbolism of style it is titled "God of war".

Rita Simon's style classification: Massive transition.

c.1950

1 artwork Watercolour on paper. 27.6 x 37.7 cm

The patient was a male German Jewish refugee working in the 1950s. He was paranoid and seemed to compensate for this through admiring Hitler and kept a photograph of Hitler on his person. "Heinz" attended therapy sessions once a week at a psychiatric centre. He had very precise English diction and sat very straight when drawing.

This information is taken from conversations between Rita Simon and Wellcome staff between 1995 and 1997.