Melancholy. Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity. In art it is often represented through muted color palettes, such as blues, greys, and earth tones, which evoke sadness or introspection. Dark, shadowed lighting and chiaroscuro emphasize emotional depth and isolation, while solitary figures, often with downcast or distant gazes, convey feelings of loneliness. Symbolic elements like decaying objects, barren landscapes, wilting flowers, and autumnal scenes reflect themes of time, loss, and impermanence. Empty spaces in compositions heighten the sense of solitude, and the presence of mirrors or water suggests introspection. Brushwork can be soft or blurred to evoke sadness, or rough and jagged to reflect inner turmoil. Surreal or fragmented forms, especially in the works of artists like Edvard Munch and Caspar David Friedrich, represent the disjointed nature of melancholy, often paired with themes of nostalgia, death, and existential reflection. Depression can affect a person's thoughts, behavior, motivation, feelings, and sense of well-being. It may feature sadness, difficulty in thinking and concentration and a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping. People experiencing depression may have feelings of dejection, hopelessness and, sometimes, suicidal thoughts. It can either be short term or long term. The core symptom of depression is said to be anhedonia, which refers to loss of interest or a loss of feeling of pleasure in certain activities that usually bring joy to people. Depressed mood is a symptom of some mood disorders such as major depressive disorder or dysthymia; it is a normal temporary reaction to life events, such as the loss of a loved one; and it is also a symptom of some physical diseases and a side effect of some drugs and medical treatments. Adversity in childhood, such as bereavement, neglect, mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and unequal parental treatment of siblings can contribute to depression in adulthood. Childhood physical or sexual abuse in particular significantly correlates with the likelihood of experiencing depression over the victim's lifetime. Life events and changes that may precipitate depressed mood include: childbirth, menopause, financial difficulties, unemployment, stress, a medical diagnosis, bullying, loss of a loved one, natural disasters, social isolation, rape, relationship troubles, jealousy, separation, and catastrophic injury. Adolescents may be especially prone to experiencing depressed mood following social rejection, peer pressure, or bullying. High scores on the personality domain neuroticism make the development of depressive symptoms as well as all kinds of depression diagnoses more likely, and depression is associated with low extraversion.