Anne Clancier – författare

Winnicott stressed the importance and the peculiarity of paradox in human development, as well as the necessity of supporting and accepting it. As Masud Khan points out in his foreword to the book, Winnicott emphasized the many ways in which paradox formed a part of his own life, from the very beginning; and we find its application throughout his work, both in his practice and in the way he expresses his theoretical thoughts. The book begins with a preface by Simone Decobert, who very vividly describes the first impact of Winnicott''s striking personality on her. In her preface, Dr Decobert speaks about the preconceived ideas circulating in Paris about Winnicott''s work, and the way he explained, almost defended, his ideas in the early sixties. She examines some of the criticism levelled at the introduction of the parameter of external reality in treatment, the notion of ''holding'', as well as the question concerning the variations in technique.

Winnicott stressed the importance and the peculiarity of paradox in human development, as well as the necessity of supporting and accepting it. As Masud Khan points out in his foreword to the book, Winnicott emphasized the many ways in which paradox formed a part of his own life, from the very beginning; and we find its application throughout his work, both in his practice and in the way he expresses his theoretical thoughts. The book begins with a preface by Simone Decobert, who very vividly describes the first impact of Winnicott''s striking personality on her. In her preface, Dr Decobert speaks about the preconceived ideas circulating in Paris about Winnicott''s work, and the way he explained, almost defended, his ideas in the early sixties. She examines some of the criticism levelled at the introduction of the parameter of external reality in treatment, the notion of ''holding'', as well as the question concerning the variations in technique.

Avec ce colloque, tenu dans une période où la psychanalyse prolongeait son déploiement vis-à-vis de l''art, nombre de philosophes, esthéticiens et psychanalystes ont fait entendre leurs vues et ont courtoisement débattu en toute clarté. Dans l''actuelle période qui, s''agissant de l''art, semble plutôt tiraillée entre divers horizons et qui, s''agissant de la psychanalyse, en vient à multiplier les critiques, ce volume, qui garde toute son actualité, paraît utile aussi bien aux psychanalystes et aux artistes qu''aux critiques, et plus généralement, quels qu''ils soient, aux lecteurs qui souhaitent en savoir davantage sur ces questions.