The scientific and clinical interest on children with psychiatric disturbed parents increased in the last years. Those children belong to a high risk population so that prevention is urgently indicated. Research of resilience factors gives us important information about resources and coping-strategies which can be used clinically. It therefore complements the research of vulnerability in a clinical relevant way.

On the basis of the biography of the surrealistic painter René Magritte who lived with a psychiatric disturbed mother who committed suicide when he was thirteen it is demonstrated how this stress maybe unconsciously forced his artistic way of painting. On the basis of some paintings of the artist the supposed connection between his work and unconscious coping-mechanisms is worked out.