Art has been around since prehistoric times and is a medium used for expressing thoughts, emotions and perceptions of the world around us. It serves many purposes: Aesthetic: providing pleasure to the eye; Communicative: conveying messages in ways that words can’t; Educational: promoting cultural appreciation among people who may not have access to education; Therapeutic: improving mental and emotional health; Social: pointing out issues in society that might not be noticed otherwise; and Ritualistic: symbolizing the world around us.
The concept of what constitutes art has evolved over time. In the early days, art meant anything you could excel at through practice, such as painting or sculpting. Then through Romanticism and the birth of individualism, it came to mean something original, something that defined you as an artist. By the start of Modernism, the question of what can be considered art was reopened as artists tried to define themselves through movements like Cubism and Futurism, or even explore non-materiality by using video and conceptual art.
Today, we’re at an interesting point where some people are still trying to find a definition for what art is, and others are moving on and focusing on what it can do for society. Art can have a positive effect on our everyday lives, and it’s important to continue fostering creativity, lateral thinking and risk-taking in the younger generation so that we can move forward together as a society.
For example, art is a great way to promote gender equality and empower women by depicting strong women who don’t fit the traditional stereotype. The classic work by Elizabeth Sirani, Portia Wounding Her Thigh, illustrates the message that a woman can be just as strong and powerful as a man. This can inspire young females to be confident in their abilities and break down stereotypes.
Art can also help fight against intolerance of different cultures, racism, and other forms of unjust societal segregation. It can help raise awareness by educating foreigners about their home countries’ cultures, and even inspiring them to accept these cultures, no matter how strange or alien they may seem at first.
Finally, art can serve as a form of entertainment and a way to escape from the grind of daily life. It can transport us into another world through the beauty and magic of a movie or the drama of a play, or the awe-inspiring landscape of a sculpture. It can give people a sense of wonder that’s often missing in our fast-paced, technology-driven world.
So the next time you look at a piece of art, think about all that went into creating it — not only the skill and hard work involved, but the emotion and passion as well. Consider the lines, shapes, colors and composition, and interpret what it is the artist is trying to communicate. If you want, try relating it to your own experiences or to other works of art that you’ve seen. This can help you understand the meaning behind a work of art and what it means to the viewer.