Hermann Hesse and the Healing Power of Painting

Brücke und Schneeberg (Bridge and Snowy Mountain), around 1917-1918

Hermann Hesse, the Nobel Prize–winning author of Siddhartha and Steppenwolf, turned to painting later in life as a form of personal healing. Around 1916, while struggling with deep depression and personal crises, Hesse began therapy with Dr. Joseph Bernhard Lang, a student and colleague of Carl Jung. Under Lang’s guidance, Hesse explored his dreams and inner imagery — an experience that later influenced his writing and visual art.

In his letters, Hesse often described how painting became his sanctuary. He wrote:

“I've finally found my own form of escape from depression. I've started painting. It's something I've never tried before. Whether this is of any value is incidental. I have no illusions, I know I am an amateur, but my little watercolors are like poems or dreams. They offer me an escape from everyday reality.”

Hesse began creating small watercolor landscapes inspired by his walks through the Swiss countryside. He frequently sent these paintings to friends along with handwritten notes, describing his impressions of light, color, and mood. Later, these experiences formed the basis of his reflective essays in The Magic of Colors, where he viewed painting as a spiritual dialogue with nature — a process that helped him restore balance and find peace within himself.

✦ Art Therapy Practice Inspired by Hesse

Following Hesse’s path of using painting as reflection and self-care, try this simple exercise:

1. Choose a photograph — Select one meaningful image from a journey or a quiet walk in nature.

2. Recall the moment — Remember the time, the place, your sensations, and your inner state while being there.

3. Recreate the scene — Paint this landscape anew, using the photograph only as a gentle reference. Work with watercolors, allowing softness and transparency to guide your emotions.

4. Write brief notes — Describe the place, your impressions, and your feelings during the painting process.

5. Compose a short free-verse poem — Let your notes transform into a few poetic lines — a gentle “walk” both on paper and through memory.

This exercise echoes Hermann Hesse’s own practice — turning to painting not for mastery, but for mindfulness, reflection, and connection with oneself through color and imagination.