History Courses/Art 103: History of Western Art ICourse
Lesson Transcript
InstructorDavid JuliaoShow bio
David has a bachelor's degree in architecture, has done research in architecture, arts and design and has worked in the field for several years.
Archaeological evidence suggests that humans created art for thousands of years and possibly longer. Investigate why humans create art, including art's value to society, what art reveals about humans, and several motivations to make art.Updated: 12/23/2022
Table of Contents
- Humans and Art
- Art Is Valuable for Society
- Art Tells Us About Ourselves
- Lesson Summary
''Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life,'' said the famous Spanish painter Pablo Picasso.
Art is an important part of being human. Not only do we have the ability to create tools and modify our surroundings, but we also have the curiosity for making objects look beautiful. There are many possible reasons and explanations as to why humans make art and it would probably take years to identify each one of them, but let's explore some of the most likely reasons that humans create art.
Some of the main reasons for creating art include:
Making our surroundings more beautiful. Creating objects to decorate our surroundings has motivated the creation of many types of art, such as architecture, painting, sculpture, jewelry, design objects for every day use, and many others.
Creating records of a specific time, place, person or object is also a major motivation for art. Paintings of individuals, battle scenes, or even those artistic wedding photographs could be considered art made for the purpose of recording something specific.
Expressing and communicating ideas also moves the creation of art, including expressing religious beliefs, artwork for criticizing elements of society, for educating people, even for showing that we are capable of doing something no one else has tried before.
There are countless other reasons for the creation of art. But art has been important for mankind since the early dawn of civilization. Our ancestors started to create art at least 30,000 years ago. Among the oldest known examples of art are the prehistoric paintings on the walls of caves in Europe and Asia, depicting human and animal figures and small items for decorating the body. Since those days, art and mankind have evolved together.
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Art is inspiring and stimulating for the human mind. Of course, we all don't like the same types of art or enjoy every single piece in the same way; however, when we see a work of art, our feelings and thoughts are often awakened. There is a connection of art as an exterior stimulus with an inner emotional state in our minds. This is one reason behind the value placed on art.
Throughout history, art has been given many valuable meanings, and different objects have been given a great importance because of what they mean or represent to a specific group of people. Some have been treasured because of their religious significance; others have become symbols of political power or national identity. Some are not only valued for their beauty but are also given a material value, especially pieces created with precious metals. Others have become symbols of their time.
Art is often considered of incalculable value, and museums and collectors pay a lot of money to get a single piece. Although it might seem outrageous to some, having those pieces bring benefits, like attracting visitors and promoting an important cultural environment.
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As a lasting legacy from older times, art allows us to learn about different aspects of the time and place where a piece was created. Art history is deeply related to human history, and its study is important for understanding how mankind has lived and evolved throughout the centuries. Art provides a significant insight into the culture of specific human groups; the technology of that time, what was considered beautiful, the religious beliefs, and even activities of daily life.
Interest in art has existed for centuries. In ancient Egypt, art was motivated by life after death, and pharaohs spent their lives preparing for that moment. Greece and Rome cultivated proportions and beauty, and some of their considerations continued to influence many centuries later. In medieval times, art was motivated by religion. After the Renaissance, religion continued to be important, but as European Monarchies became more powerful, they promoted the creation of majestic pieces to exhibit their power. Modern art became much more diverse and more critical of society.
There has often been a will to preserve art as part of our legacy for future generations and also to encourage the creation of new pieces. Nowadays, an important number of pieces are owned by private collectors, and many others are exhibited in museums and galleries. These institutions make huge efforts to collect, preserve, and sometimes restore different types of art. Some are funded by governments, while others rely on private funding or charitable donations.
Finally, art also helps us to better understand ourselves. Every individual is unique, and we all perceive things differently - and yet, many have stood before an art piece and suddenly felt an intense emotion or even realized something about their own lives. Sometimes the feelings a person experiences may not have been the artist's intent, but a connection with that piece was established, even if only for a few seconds, and it suddenly helped us see inside ourselves.
''The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance'' (Aristotle).
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Art is an important aspect of our human condition and as humans, not only we have the ability to create tools and modify our surroundings, but we also have the curiosity for creating beauty. Since the beginning of civilization, art has been important, and our ancestors started to create it over 30,000 years ago. There are countless reasons that motivate the creation of art; some of them are making our surroundings more beautiful; creating records of a specific time, place, person or object; and expressing and communicating ideas.
Art is inspiring and stimulating for the human mind. There is a connection of an exterior stimulus with an inner emotional state. Art pieces are often considered of incalculable value, either for their religious, political, or social significance - or even for their materials.
Art allows us to learn about different times from the past and also about ourselves. The study of art history is important for understanding how different societies have lived and evolved throughout history.
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