Sunday, January 25, 2015

Figurative And Genre Art And Their Impact To Modern Society

By Janine Hughes


One of the things that speaks highly of a societys identity are the artworks that are produced from the place. As a form of expression, they do not only embody the thoughts of the artist. They are also great symbolism of the culture and traditions that are passed by from generations to generations.

Da Vinci, Picasso, and all other great artist of their times may no longer be present to witness the advancements of our society. But their works which embody their era surely remain popular. Figurative and genre art are among the classification that stood proud until today. Many works including paintings and sculptures remain an attraction and inspiration for modern day artists.

These two genres can sometimes be used interchangeable. After all, they both reflect daily life and practices of the people. But while genre deals a lot with clear manifestations like the Peasant Dance by Pieter Brueghel in 1568, figurative can present abstractions from the real thing. A good example is the Les Demoiselles painting in 1907 done by Picasso.

Knowing for sure what makes an artwork great can be a challenge. Only those who created them can tell the story behind the works birth. But people can guess. There are some who are convinced that great works are born out of a skilled person who loves art. Others attribute it to passion. And then there are those who believe it is hard work, time and focus. All of these can be correct. In fact we could be looking at possible combinations.

You may find the painting of different scenarios as easy. As long as you have something that you can use as a guide, you can go ahead and paint. The challenge however is how to make it look appealing. It is difficult to achieve something when you are both concerned about the message and the aesthetics. Sometimes, you just need to let the other flow.

Creating a great work of art requires more than just inspiration. It needs a combination of time, skill and passion from the artist himself. An absence of any of these factors can affect the overall quality of the output. We may never have seen the actual ways by how these masterpieces were created. But the way they get the attention of the people is enough of a proof on the thought and feeling poured down on them during the creation.

And of course there is the issue of an artists bias. Anyone who feels strongly about something will most likely manifest it to his works. While they could not be as dominant as the other factors, they will show. For instance, a painter who values the role of females in the society may paint a picture of women dancing in circles.

One great thing about the masterpieces we see at present is their varied interpretations. We can give meaning to them however we want it. The emotions that they draw out from individuals can affect the way we see it. Someone who sees a painting of aristocrats may find it elegant. Yet others may find it discriminating.

Things change. But one thing that remained is the natural tendency of humans to be attracted to great works of art. There is something so regal and beautiful about them that they are impossible to forget. The older they become, the higher their value becomes.




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