Not currently on display at the V&A

Freud (Freudian Slips Collection)

Dress Fabric
1987 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This textile was inspired by a psychological projective test of personality, developed by 20th-century Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach. In Rorschach's test the patient's interpretations of ten standard abstract inkblots are analysed. The patient is supposed to project his or her real personality into the inkblot via the interpretation. The fabric features portraits of historical personalities, including Austrian psychologist and psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, and abstract prints of inkblots and interpretations amongst vertical stripes.

Helen David founded English Eccentrics, named after Edith Sitwell's book, and produced hand-printed and hand-embroidered silk garments and scarves. Her work is influenced by her interest in travel, ecology and green issues, the women's peace movement, architecture, costume and nature.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleFreud (Freudian Slips Collection) (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Screen-printed silk with acid dyes
Brief description
Screen printed silk with acid dyes, featuring portraits including Sigmund Freud, inkblots and pink vertical stripes, designed by Helen David for English Eccentrics, England, Spring/Summer 1987
Physical description
Screen printed silk with acid dyes featuring portraits of historical figures including the Austrian psychologist and psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, abstract prints of inkblots and interpretations amongst pink vertical stripes. The interpretations include 'sibling rivalry between jellyfish; two fleas dancing a tango, this might seem predictable but it looks like a butterfly, it looks like an inkblot test invented by Rorcharch ... I wonder if they will catch on; the ghost of leonardo, a crab in a cardigan and it looks like another print by Helen Littman (David) to me'.
Dimensions
  • Length: 261cm
  • Width: 97cm
Production typeMass produced
Credit line
Given by Gary Page
Historical context
This textile was inspired by a psychological projective test of personality, developed by 20th century Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach. In Rorschach's test the patient's interpretations of ten standard abstract inkblots are analysed. The patient is supposed to project his or her real personality into the inkblot via the interpretation. The fabric features portraits of historical personalities, including Austrian psychologist and psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, abstract prints of inkblots and interpretations amongst vertical stripes.
Subject depicted
Associations
Summary
This textile was inspired by a psychological projective test of personality, developed by 20th-century Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach. In Rorschach's test the patient's interpretations of ten standard abstract inkblots are analysed. The patient is supposed to project his or her real personality into the inkblot via the interpretation. The fabric features portraits of historical personalities, including Austrian psychologist and psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, and abstract prints of inkblots and interpretations amongst vertical stripes.

Helen David founded English Eccentrics, named after Edith Sitwell's book, and produced hand-printed and hand-embroidered silk garments and scarves. Her work is influenced by her interest in travel, ecology and green issues, the women's peace movement, architecture, costume and nature.
Collection
Accession number
T.8-2007

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJuly 26, 2007
Record URL
Download as: JSON