What Is True Art?
Shawnee Holladay
Humanities: Fine Arts Appreciation
14 October 2012
“What Is True Art?”
Art has been a part of our life for as long as humanity has existed. For thousands of years people have been creating, viewing, criticizing, and enjoying art. Art is one of the most intriguing and exiting forms of human expression. A picture can tell a thousand words and often stir up feelings inside the viewer. Art is all around us. Buildings, electronic equipment such as computers, and even automobiles are all a form of art. Each one started out as an idea and a design laid the basis for its creation. Many people only think of art as a sculpture or a work hanging in the gallery, but art is much more than that. Life, in a sense, could be considered art. The human body, nature, and everything that surrounds us is a marvel of creation and a wonderful work of art. In this essay, I will address a challenge proposed by my professor to look at a painting and ask the question: “Why would I consider this work true art” (Pittman)?
The painting I found was created by Geneva Green and was titled Brotherton Cabin. Brotherton Cabin is a historical cabin located in the Chickamauga Battlefield (Schroeder). The painting depicts a fall scene in which the leaves are changing color and falling off. There are two trees with no leaves at all, and the grass is dying and turning yellow. The painting itself to me depicts death and dying as was the case during the Civil War fought at Brotherton Cabin on September 20, 1863 (Schroeder). The connection between what the artist meant to achieve and what she actually achieves through the medium is what I believe classifies true art. If at least one person in this world understands what the artist meant to say, then we can safely call that piece art. What classifies a masterpiece, however, is when not only one person understands what the artist was trying to say with the piece but when the majority does (Art).
In conclusion, it can be
Humanities: Fine Arts Appreciation
14 October 2012
“What Is True Art?”
Art has been a part of our life for as long as humanity has existed. For thousands of years people have been creating, viewing, criticizing, and enjoying art. Art is one of the most intriguing and exiting forms of human expression. A picture can tell a thousand words and often stir up feelings inside the viewer. Art is all around us. Buildings, electronic equipment such as computers, and even automobiles are all a form of art. Each one started out as an idea and a design laid the basis for its creation. Many people only think of art as a sculpture or a work hanging in the gallery, but art is much more than that. Life, in a sense, could be considered art. The human body, nature, and everything that surrounds us is a marvel of creation and a wonderful work of art. In this essay, I will address a challenge proposed by my professor to look at a painting and ask the question: “Why would I consider this work true art” (Pittman)?
The painting I found was created by Geneva Green and was titled Brotherton Cabin. Brotherton Cabin is a historical cabin located in the Chickamauga Battlefield (Schroeder). The painting depicts a fall scene in which the leaves are changing color and falling off. There are two trees with no leaves at all, and the grass is dying and turning yellow. The painting itself to me depicts death and dying as was the case during the Civil War fought at Brotherton Cabin on September 20, 1863 (Schroeder). The connection between what the artist meant to achieve and what she actually achieves through the medium is what I believe classifies true art. If at least one person in this world understands what the artist meant to say, then we can safely call that piece art. What classifies a masterpiece, however, is when not only one person understands what the artist was trying to say with the piece but when the majority does (Art).
In conclusion, it can be
Cited: Art. www.123HelpMe.com. Web. 13 October 2012. Pittman, Don. Lecture. 11 October 2012. Schroeder, Glenda. www.sequatchietngenealogy.com. 1 May 2004. Brotherton Cabin. Web. 13 October 2012.