Thomas Hart Benton: Cave Spring

Discussion Questions

• What stands out to you in Benton’s painting, Cave Spring? What does it say about Benton’s views on the relationship between human wellbeing and the natural world?

• How does this image relate to your own experiences nourishing your health & well-being by spending time in natural settings?

• How can we integrate our understanding of the interconnectedness between human health and the health of the natural world into our approach to healing?

Reflections from #MedHumChat

“I love how the human figure follows the curves and flow of nature in the painting” —@ScottVernaglia

“One of the reasons I liked the choice of this painting is that I have always turned to nature as a way of healing my body and my soul. To see the fracking industry turn my friend K's hills against her was a double betrayal.” —@LouiseABlum

“Healing comes about when there is a recognition of the interconnectedness. Therefore, bring on the treatment but always make sure to look for the context, the bigger picture -- see the person, not the patient.” —@LReedsbooks

About this #MedHumChat

Cave Spring was paired with How It Ends, an essay by Louise A. Blum for a #MedHumChat on August 19, 2020 discussing Forces of Nature.

We were honored to be joined by special guest Louise A. Blum (@LouiseABlum), author of a piece that accompanied this discussion.

The pieces for this chat as well as the discussion questions were curated by Allison Chrestensen (@allison_tandem).

About the Artist

Thomas Hart Benton (1889 - 1975) was a Missouri-born American scene painter who was well-known for his murals and portraits depicting everyday life, especially in the Midwest.