The Subjective Nature of Art

Of all the things that we have kept track of throughout history, one of the most influential ones has to be art. We have made incredible efforts to preserve so many paintings, sculptures, songs, and other works of art to study the various styles that were utilized by people during different periods of time.


One period that is well known for it's art is the Baroque Period of the 17th century. This period stood out amongst many others as it's music and visual arts developed a very distinctive style from previous ages and eras. According to Drogin, "the are of the 1600's, called Baroque, is characterized by emotional richness and technical complexity that goes beyond the realism and control of renaissance art."



For many, the art from this time may speak to them and move their heart in a way that no other art could and they consider that to be "real art." However, others may very well prefer the art of the Renaissance, or another era. Some may even prefer the art or music of the modern day than that of the distant past. Often we hear people speak of a lack of creativity or depth existing in today's artforms.


However, despite the fact that art may not be the same as it was centuries ago, it still has value. A song that one person sees as too simplistic could have a profound emotional impact on someone else. A painting that seems uninteresting to some may be beautiful and worthwhile to others. We need to remember that art is subjective to everyone and open to interpretation. We need to allow new artists the opportunity to create just as much as we allow them to be inspired by the work of the great painters and composers of the past. If we can remember these things, perhaps we will not be so quick to judge what is and isn't "real art."

Image Credit: "The Ecstasy of St. Teresa", Bernini https://betterlivingthroughbeowulf.com/i-am-a-glory-that-cannot-unshine-itself/bernini-ecstasy-of-st-teresa/ Public Domain