2025 el arte terapia como propuesta terapéutica de recuperación de la salud.

Abstract

The present research study called “Art therapy as a therapeutic proposal for health recovery” deals with how pictorial art can be a therapeutic resource for patient recovery, and using photography to document the process and foster empathy. The history of photography and its evolution from the 19th century to the present day are addressed, highlighting its role in visual communication and its impact on art. In the development of the research we will address the development of photography and its beginnings with Nicéphore Niépce in 1826, who created the first heliography. Later, Louis Daguerre introduced the daguerreotype in 1839, a commercially successful method. In turn, William Henry Fox Talbot developed the calotype, a precursor to modern photography. Photography has influenced art, allowing painters such as Delacroix and Courbet to document reality more faithfully. In the therapeutic field, pictorial art has shown benefits in the recovery of emotional and mental health. Art therapy, which emerged in the 20th century, uses artistic expression to facilitate the communication of emotions and thoughts. Adrian Hill, considered a pioneer in this discipline, discovered its positive effects while convalescing from tuberculosis in 1942. Painting, drawing and sculpture have been used in hospitals and mental health centers to improve the well-being of patients. Memory plays a key role in the therapeutic impact of art, as images can evoke memories and emotions on both an individual and collective level. Art therapy has been successfully applied in pediatric contexts, helping hospitalized children manage stress and anxiety through artistic expression. This approach promotes a safe environment for children to express their emotions and improve their quality of life during medical treatments. Various artists have found art a means of personal therapy. Vincent van Gogh used painting to cope with his mental health problems, while Edvard Munch reflected his anxiety and depression in his works. Frida Kahlo transformed her physical and emotional pain into art, turning it into a channel for expression and healing. Yayoi Kusama, Louise Bourgeois and Jean Dubuffet have also used art as a therapeutic tool to confront psychological and emotional disorders. In the hospital context, art has been used to humanize healthcare spaces, offering comfort to patients. Since the late 1980s, the relationship between art and health has been consolidated as a formal discipline. In Latin America, although art therapy has taken time to be fully integrated, it has gained relevance in recent decades. Pictorial art, combined with photography, not only documents the therapeutic evolution of patients, but also acts as a tool for emotional transformation. Its application in the treatment of chronic diseases and support in palliative care underlines the importance of continuing to explore its potential in the field of health and human well-being.