“Don’t Be Sad”

The sarcasm is thick in this one, and rightfully so. If you know someone with depression, please don’t suggest they go for a walk or try to look on the bright side. It’s a daily struggle that they cannot switch off. Trust me; they’ve tried that. They’ve tried everything. That’s not how it works.

As for the theme in this painting, mental struggles didn’t suddenly become a thing in the 20th century. As far back as humanity goes, there has always been someone who struggled emotionally, and it was often thought that they were possessed. The amount of genuinely insane “cures” back in the day are mind-blowing.