An old master on another old master: Freud on Leonardo. Done and done, as we'd say. And it is truly a joy to read.
This book is clearly and brilliantly argued, even if it's kooky at times. The book focuses on the dense symbols that fill Leonardo's images. It also paints a compelling portrait of a great artist at work.
So let's start chipping away that paint, and see what's underneath.
- What does Freud mean by "sublimation"? (Try providing a definition in very simple, nontechnical terms.) What is the relationship between sublimation and cultural production?
- Can you think of a memory from your childhood that might have stamped your work (like the memory that Freud discusses stamped Leonardo's)?
You don't have to get all psycho-sexual and grandiose—you know, all Freudian—on us. Just use these questions as food for thought. We want you to enjoy bringing Freud's text into your own life. It's possible for this psychoanalysis business to be fun, we swear.