Normal psychology patient 1 - "Clarice"

19 artworks identified by Rita Simon's pseudonym "Clarice".

The series of paintings is discussed in The symbolism of style p40-41, Simon observed that the childs first paintings were of a stereotyped image of a house, which became taller and narrower over subsequent weeks. She then stopped painting houses and made a series of abstract patterns based on circles and squares, which over time developed into recognisable images, often with faces.

Figure 3.3i on page 41 in The symbolism of style is not held in the Wellcome Collection

A child of 3, given the pseudonym "Clarice" and discussed in The symbolism of style, p 40-43. She spent six months painting with Rita Simon, (1976-77) aged 3-3½ years. Her unease with the nursery school setting was helped by painting, her teacher felt it helped her relax and eventually she joined the other children (The symbolism of style p40). In conversations with Wellcome staff (1995-97) Rita Simon noted: "A Froebel-trained teacher noticed that she left her mother without a backward glance. She spent all the time painting representationally, which is very unusual for a 3 year old."