Francesco is a self-taught painter of eighty-eight years. Painting has accompanied his entire life as a hobby and a passion, but also as a form of introspection and personal inquiry. He is a man of culture, a lover of all the arts: he paints, writes, plays music, and defines himself with pride as an “anarchist” in the fullest sense — someone capable of defying convention with his free spirit.
His recent history is marked by prostate carcinoma and bone metastases, discovered following a fall. He walks with a walker, but the weight of illness and the progressive deterioration of his physical condition have plunged him into a state of deep depression. He has a large family, with three affectionate children who visit frequently, bringing traces of his past life. His room is decorated with his paintings — symbols of an artistic vitality that seems to stand in contrast to his physical decline.
Picking up a broken thread
Initially, Francesco expresses a desire for physical recovery, for “putting things in order” — perhaps the unresolved conflicts of his life. As his condition worsens, this hope transforms into a painful awareness: his autonomy is slipping away.
In this context of vulnerability, I suggest he revisit a painting concept he had set aside before the illness. It is a project based on superstructures, with a philosophical and conceptual imprint that mirrors his inner complexity. Francesco welcomes the idea with enthusiasm and asks me for specific materials. His energy, though limited, concentrates on this objective: at the desk in his room, we begin a collaborative work that reproduces his style and his vision.
The composition
We create a layered seascape on three levels: the sea — a blue card as the base —, an iron cage resembling scaffolding drawn with colored pencils, and hull-less vessels sailing in opposite directions. Some toward the right, but one — symbolic — toward the left.
The waves are characterized by small foamy crests outlined with white marker. The sails, painted in pure acrylic, deliberately let what lies beneath show through. The work is framed on black card, with a second hand-drawn border, underscoring the intention to contain and define the content.
This composition is not merely a work of art: it is a reflection of Francesco’s inner world. The sea represents emotional depth; the hull-less vessels embody vulnerability and the desire to sail against the current; the iron cage symbolizes the superstructures and complications of life. The need to define and contain emerges with force.
The completion
Francesco, though satisfied with the result, senses that this is a conclusion — the completion of a chapter in his life. He no longer feels the need to create; indeed, a desire for rest surfaces within him, a need to let go.
Over the month and a half of the journey, the relationship with his family develops in a climate of trust and collaboration. His children, present and attentive, share the care objectives and strive to respect their father’s needs. As the situation worsens, I release the idea of involving him further in artistic activity, recognizing that his path has reached its end.
Art therapy for Francesco was an inner dialogue, an opportunity to process and give definite form to his experience in a concrete and symbolic way. It was not simply about “making art,” but about exploring his inner world, giving voice to his emotions, and closing, with dignity and authenticity, a cycle of his life.