Story from Expressive Arts Inspirations
SVEVA CAETANI - REPRESSION TO SELF-EXPRESSION
As a junior curator at an art gallery almost 20 years ago I curated a show by the under-represented Canadian artist Sveva Caetanifrom Vernon, BC. Canada.
Her story from emotional repression to self-expression is so extraordinary, it can encourage all of us to express our truth at any stage of life.
"Life became difficult for eighteen-year-old Sveva after the death of her father from cancer in 1934. Her mother Ofelia suffered both physically and mentally from the loss and chose a reclusive life, forcing Sveva to join her.
Sveva was housebound from 1935 until 1960. It was only after Ofelia’s death that Sveva was free to pursue her own creative interests."
A True Fairy Tale
Not only would Sveva's mother Ofelia refuse to leave the house, but she forbid Sveva to do so either. Without her husband to cling to, Ofelia tried to hold on to her daughter. Ofelia complained of heart problems, and she told her daughter, “If you leave me, I shall die.” Sveva obeyed her.
She was afraid to do anything that might hurt her mother. She was also afraid of losing her mother’s love. Ofelia was afraid of being left alone. She was afraid Sveva might want to get married or have a career and then move away. A fence was built around the yard, and visitors were turned away.
Letters to Sveva from friends were kept from her. There was only Miss Juul, Ofelia’s long-time companion, and her mother for company. Sveva spent her lonely days reading and housecleaning. Ofelia became obsessed with cleanliness.
Every day, Sveva washed and ironed the sheets, and she scrubbed the floors. Ofelia even had the curtains, carpets, and lamp shades removed so that there would be fewer places for dust and dirt to hide. In her spare time, Sveva was not allowed to write or paint.
Reading became her link to the outside world, and crates of books were shipped from England. Eventually, when Sveva was close to a nervous breakdown, she was allowed out into the garden. Then, after 16 year of being confined to the property, she was allowed to go into town to do business such as banking. But Miss Juul always went with her, and Sveva had to telephone her mother every half hour. For 25 years, Sveva lived like Rapunzel, trapped in her own tower.
Her story from emotional repression to self-expression is so extraordinary, it can encourage all of us to express our truth at any stage of life.
"Life became difficult for eighteen-year-old Sveva after the death of her father from cancer in 1934. Her mother Ofelia suffered both physically and mentally from the loss and chose a reclusive life, forcing Sveva to join her.
Sveva was housebound from 1935 until 1960. It was only after Ofelia’s death that Sveva was free to pursue her own creative interests."
A True Fairy Tale
Not only would Sveva's mother Ofelia refuse to leave the house, but she forbid Sveva to do so either. Without her husband to cling to, Ofelia tried to hold on to her daughter. Ofelia complained of heart problems, and she told her daughter, “If you leave me, I shall die.” Sveva obeyed her.
She was afraid to do anything that might hurt her mother. She was also afraid of losing her mother’s love. Ofelia was afraid of being left alone. She was afraid Sveva might want to get married or have a career and then move away. A fence was built around the yard, and visitors were turned away.
Letters to Sveva from friends were kept from her. There was only Miss Juul, Ofelia’s long-time companion, and her mother for company. Sveva spent her lonely days reading and housecleaning. Ofelia became obsessed with cleanliness.
Every day, Sveva washed and ironed the sheets, and she scrubbed the floors. Ofelia even had the curtains, carpets, and lamp shades removed so that there would be fewer places for dust and dirt to hide. In her spare time, Sveva was not allowed to write or paint.
Reading became her link to the outside world, and crates of books were shipped from England. Eventually, when Sveva was close to a nervous breakdown, she was allowed out into the garden. Then, after 16 year of being confined to the property, she was allowed to go into town to do business such as banking. But Miss Juul always went with her, and Sveva had to telephone her mother every half hour. For 25 years, Sveva lived like Rapunzel, trapped in her own tower.
Sveva: Living Happily Ever After
Ofelia died in 1960 when she was 64 years old. Finally, Sveva was free of her obligation to her mother. Sveva was 43, and she felt that her life was just beginning. In her will, Ofelia left the last of her possessions, a house in Italy, to the Catholic Church. There was little Caetani money left for Sveva. This meant that Sveva had to find a job and earn a living for the first time in her life.
Like a spring flower blooming after a long winter, Sveva blossomed in the community. She learned to drive, she joined local clubs, she made many new friends, and she started to teach school. Sveva took up painting again when she was in her 50s. She had painted as a child and a young woman. However, her mother had discouraged her artistic talents. Ofelia even destroyed some of Sveva’s paintings.
An art teacher at the University of Victoria urged Sveva to start painting once more. Sveva wanted to show the journey of her life in a series of paintings. Perhaps painting these pictures also helped Sveva come to grips with painful memories of her father’s death, her mother’s solitude, and her own confinement.
For the full PDF of this story click HERE.
