The child and/or the picture. Motherhood and creativity: their vicissitudes.

The development of this clinical case, that of a young mother who was a painter, illustrates the link between motherhood and sublimated creativity. The importance of male identifications, the difficulties of identification with the mother and the guilt connected with penis envy are emphasized. Castration anxiety is attached to the child, experienced as a penis equivalent. Anal fixation also plays a crucial part, aggravating the refusal of an excessively guilt-ridden genital sexuality. The vicissitudes and conditions of female sublimation are discussed.