KRISTIN ZETHREN, PhD

I was an artist before I became a psychologist. And I still paint. My work is often informed by elements of psychology, particularly Jung, who stated that the image, the imago, preceded the logos, or the language in which we do therapy.

Anima

(Oil on Canvas, 109” x 72”

In this piece I sought to create a modern image of the Anima, who “…represents the collective unconscious,” according to Jung. (Collected Works, 14, 128.). The anima…in accordance with her Eros nature, wears the features of Aphrodite…”. (CW, 9, ii, 41.). To make her contemporary, I envisioned more of a Marilyn Monroe type, the image cribbed from a stroke magazine. She manifests a kindly male who admires the little bird. A peanut gallery on the lower left is us, taking in the scene: the cat stares at the bird, the dragon ogles the girl, and maybe I’m the middle pot. I was thinking of having her stand on a sea shell, to invoke the Aphrodite reference -- what do you think?