From a psychological perspective, it’s a state of tunnel vision: the world shrinks to a single thought — “This is unbearable.”

The person sees no way out, no future, plunging into a crisis. Motivation fades, hopelessness settles in, and every action seems pointless.

The defining characteristic of this emotion is the absence of optimism and the thirst for life.

This is how our psyche signals the onset of depression.

“Despair is fear without hope.” — René Descartes

This work is part of the series “In the Company of Sigmund Freud”, in which the artist explores profound psychological states through symbolism and color.