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The idea behind this book is an appealing and attractive one, namely a forum for a group of practicing psychoanalysts to write from their own unique perspective as therapists on aspects of the culture of their native land. In this case, our anticipated pleasure is all the greater because that land is Holland. It would be impossible to imagine the history of European painting without the contribution of the masters of this region. What richness there is! I think first of the 17th century—those rollicking and bawdy scenes of family life by Jan Steen, the incisive portraits composed of flickering brush strokes by Franz Hals, the serene interiors with their radiant blues and golds by Vermeer, the eerie mystery of a cemetery in stormy weather as rendered by Jacob Ruisdael, the luscious silks and velvets of Terborch. And then, of course, we have Rembrandt…. If we turn back to the 15th century and spread our geographic net just a little wider, we find the jewel-like panels of the brothers Hubert and Jan Van Eyck and images of exquisite tenderness by Rogier van der Weyden; we cringe before the burning intensity of Hugo van der Goes and marvel at the doll-like