The lost object and the act of creation

ABSTRACT

The aim of this article is to discuss the idea of the lost object and to throw light on its relation to creativity. The main thesis is that what is called the original or primary object cannot be considered lost in an absolute meaning. The original object is according to this author not lost, for the simple reason that it never was. In the beginning was only an encounter and so the lost object can only be said to be lost after the fact or afterwards. From this statement the author takes up the question of what this implies for a discussion of creativity and ask the question, what it is the artist creates or re-creates in his work of art, and how the idea of the lost object may throw light on the act of creation. The chosen example for illustration is Freud’s study of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

KEYWORDS:

• The lost object
• creativity
• sublimation
• inspiration
• Mona Lisa

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Judy Gammelgaard

Judy Gammelgaard born 1946, Professor Emerita, University of Copenhagen, Department of Psychology, is a training and supervising analyst of the Danish Psychoanalytic Society. She has written books and articles on clinical and theoretical subjects and on applied analysis. Her latest book ‘After Freud. Memory disturbances and other normal abnormalities’, was published in Danish in 2018.