Art is an expression of the human imagination and, in turn, can inspire emotions. Art can take different forms such as paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and photographs. The purpose of art can be to communicate political, spiritual or philosophical ideas, to explore the nature of perception or to create a sense of beauty (see aesthetics). It can also be created for pleasure or to generate strong emotions.
A great deal of art is evocative, and evokes feelings of wonder, awe and admiration. This is why people enjoy art and are able to connect with it. A piece of artwork can move us to be enchanted, inspired and moved to action. Artists can use their creativity to strengthen the will of a community and to influence a society’s elite and powerful to push for change. Artists are able to speak from the heart of a society and can pull on the heartstrings of people. This is why art is so important, and why it is so dangerous for governments and dictators to try to censor or suppress it.
For centuries, artists have been exploring various methods of capturing a moment in time, with the aim to capture a feeling or emotion. The ability to do this successfully is what distinguishes art from any other medium. It has the power to evoke an emotion that can be seen and felt by all, regardless of background or culture. It is this unique power that has given rise to different theories of what constitutes art, such as Symbolism, Expressionism and Formalism.
In addition to this, a work of art is a combination of skill and an expression of the artist’s creative imagination. This can be reflected in different art periods such as the Classical, Byzantine, neo-Classical, Romantic and Dutch Golden Age. In the end, however, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what makes an object a work of art, as many theories suggest that there are ‘family resemblances’ that link very different instances of art together.
What we do know is that art has always been a part of every human society. From the earliest cave paintings to modern day works of photography and sculpture, artists are constantly pushing the boundaries of what they can do with their medium. The future of art is boundless and we are only beginning to understand the importance of it.
In a world where monetary success is the main metric, it can be easy to forget the value of art. Creating and supporting the arts can give back hope to communities that have been affected by war, natural disaster or other societal struggles. It can help them find the courage to carry on and overcome their difficulties. It can also inspire their future generations and help preserve a culture. In short, it is essential for the survival of a society.