Art as Expression

For centuries, representation was taken to be the central, defining feature of art.

The emphasis of Representation theories of art was on the outward aspects of things.

In a loose sense of the word, art was primarily concerned with the objective features of the “external” world.

By the mid 19^th century, artists began to turn inward; they explored their own subjective experiences. Even while depicting landscapes (external realities) they attempted to register their reactions - the way they felt - about the landscapes. (they were not just mirroring nature)

Artists were becoming more attentive to the subjective or “inner” world of experience.

That gives birth to a new art theory, “Art as Expression”.

Study the PDF below

(to be used for educational purposes only)

Art as Expression PDF

Impressionism, though its an independent art movement, expressed more of the impressions of the passing moment and qualities of light as seen by subjective artists. We can see the beginning of art as expression here.

The clarity about art as expression was brought about by the expressionism artists themselves. The most outstanding artist is Edvard Munch. His artworks, like The Sick Child, The Scream etc. are samples for the same.

The Scream, by Edvard Munch

Expression comes from the Latin word, meaning, ‘to press outward’. Here art is essentially involved in bringing feelings to the surface, bringing them outward where they can be perceived by artists and audiences alike.

But are all expressions art?

Consider the following scenarios,

Expression is a form of communication, in fact every communication is expression. So is every communication ART?

Suppose I am very dejected; I’ve just lost my job. I am weeping. You see me and from my manner of speaking, catch some of my sadness. You start to think about losing your own job. You too begin to feel sad. Is this event a ‘work of art’?

Suppose that a painter is given an eviction notice by the landlord. He, in anger, takes a can of red paint and throws at the landlord. He dodges and the can of paint splatters on the wall, making an image. Is that a piece of ART?

The theorists of Art as Expression clarifies that if something to be a Work of Art it must have,

1. Feeling state

The artist must have some feeling or emotion.

She/he may have gone through experiences.

Or she/he feels it towards a landscape, or an event, like a military victory.

The artist must experience some emotional state.

2. Intended

By weeping I don’t intend to make an artwork.

I am upset, but it is not my intention to transfer that feeling to others.

Nor is it my intention to make a piece of art.

Artist wants to get her/his feelings out in the open where everyone, including herself, can contemplate them.

3. Clarified

An artist examines her/his emotions; it is not simply that she is possessed by them. She/he examines it.

For the artist, her/his emotional state is like the sitter who poses for a portrait. She struggles to find its texture and its contour.

Making a work of art is not a matter of exploding, venting or ranting; emotions has to be clarified.

This is a controlled activity, not an outburst.

4. Externalised

The artist brings the emotion outside of herself/himself, so to speak - by trying to find some configuration of lines, shapes, colors, sounds, actions, and/or words that are appropriate to or that “match” that feeling.

Art is a public affair. An artwork cannot exist entirely inside someone’s head.

Art must be embodied in some publicly accessible medium

5. Shared Feeling state with audience

These configurations stimulate the same kind of emotional state in the audience

The expression theory of art is also called as The Transmission Theory of Art .

It is because the clarified emotion is communicated/transmitted to an audience. Another version of the expression theory drops this requirement, allowing that something is an artwork as long as it involves the clarification of an emotion, and making an art out of it. It may not be for public consumption. This is called Solo Expression Theory of Art.

Artists like Max Beckmann and Käthe Kollwitz have gone beyond from my feeling state to our feeling state. They expressed strongly on heartbreaking political happenings and social evils. Beckmann was terrified by the horror of war. Käthe Kollwitz was emotionally connected with the weavers movement and farmers movement.

Comments

Visual Analysis: INTRODUCTION

Visual analysis is a systematic and scientific examination of visual materials that explores their communicative meaning, aesthetic qualities, and functional impact. As Susan Sontag noted, humans tend to linger in "mere images of the truth," making it crucial to develop a deeper understanding of visual interpretation. Study the PDF below (for academic use only) Introduction to Visual Analysis PDF The Nature of Seeing: The process of seeing is not as spontaneous or natural as commonly believed. According to John Berger, our way of seeing art has historically been influenced by privileged minorities to maintain social and economic dominance. Visual perception requires conscious effort and is heavily influenced by habits and conventions. The visual faculty consumes approximately two-third of a person’s used energy, highlighting its significance in human experience. The Framework of Visual Analysis: Visual analysis could be traced back to communication models, for example, Har...

Visual Analysis: SEMIOTICS

Visual analysis is a systematic and scientific approach to examining visual materials that goes far beyond casual observation. In our visually saturated world, images have become a inescapable universal language that shapes our perceptions, attitudes, and experiences. From the artworks adorning gallery walls to the advertisements lining city streets, visuals communicate narratives, evoke emotions, and reflect sociocultural ideologies. However, the process of seeing and interpreting visuals is not as spontaneous or natural as we often assume. As John Berger notably stated, "seeing is an active decision," suggesting that the process of interpreting visuals is neither spontaneous nor natural, but rather requires conscious effort and critical thinking. The way we perceive and interpret visual content is heavily influenced by habits, conventions, and our individual perspectives. Serious visual analyses requires conscious effort and critical analysis to unravel the laye...

A Critical Visual Analysis of Jan Banning's ‘Bureaucratics’

Jan Banning's photographic series Bureaucratics offers a remarkable anthropological study of civil servants across eight countries, revealing how power, hierarchy, and cultural identity manifest in governmental spaces. Through meticulously composed photographs taken from a citizen's perspective, Banning unveils the theatre of bureaucracy the most immediate visual impact comes from Banning's consistent methodology: each photograph is taken from the same height and distance, positioning the viewer in the role of a citizen approaching the bureaucrat's desk. The bureaucrats are photographed in their natural habitat – their offices – which become stages where power dynamics and cultural values are performed daily. Make visual analysis of Bureaucratics by Jan Banning given below. Bureaucratics by Jan Banning PDF (for academic use only) In examining the spatial arrangements, a clear pattern emerges: the desk serves as both barrier and symbol of authority. In many image...

Sigmund Freud on Creative Writing and Day-Dreaming

Freud in his essay, Creative Writers and Day-Dreaming, explores the psychological origins of artistic creativity and the impact of literature on readers. He draws parallels between the imaginative activity of creative writers and the day-dreaming of ordinary people. It is a discussion about the relationship between creative art and unconscious phantasy. In it, Freud talks about the role of daydreaming and fantasy in human behaviour, and how creative writers are able to express their daydreams without shame or self-reproach. Read the essay below (for academic use only) Creative Writers and Day Dreaming PDF Freud argues that the child's play and the adult's phantasies/daydreams share a common element—the desire to alter an unsatisfactory reality and fulfil unfulfilled wishes. The creative writer is like a successful daydreamer who is able to transform their private fantasies into works that provide pleasure to the audience. Freud suggests that the writer's choice of subject...

2025 Must Create Its Own Art

Tonight’s art becomes inadequate and useless when the sun rises in the morning. The mistake lies not in creating art for tonight, but in assuming tonight’s answers will serve tomorrow’s questions. Louise Bourgeois, a French American artist, reflected, “art is a guaranty of sanity;” but that guarantee must be renewed with each dawn, each cultural shift, and each evolution of human consciousness. If some art endures through generations, it is only because of its capacity to speak, its ability to demand fresh interpretations that test and challenge the new. To guarantee sanity in the coming year, 2025 must create its own art. Why create art? Why watch art? Why read literature? True art, in the words of Sunil P Ilayidam, shakes that which is rigid and unchangeable. Art serves as humanity’s persistent earthquake, destabilising comfortable certainties and creating space for new ways of seeing, thinking, and being in the world. An artist’s duty is to reflect the times, and we see this in...

The Evolution of Art Styles Through History

The journey of human artistic expression spans millennia, evolving from primitive cave paintings to today's digital creations and conceptual installations. This evolution reflects not just changing techniques and materials, but also the transforming human consciousness, societal values, and technological capabilities across different eras. Study the PDF below (for academic use only) Evolution of Art PDF Prehistoric Era (Before 8th Century BCE): The dawn of human artistic expression began in prehistoric times, characterised by raw, primal representations of daily life, hunting scenes, and spiritual beliefs. Cave paintings and rock art served as humanity's first canvas, using natural pigments to capture the essence of their existence. These early artists laid the foundation for all future artistic expression, demonstrating humanity's inherent need to create and communicate through visual means. Classical Period (8th Century BCE - 5th Century CE) : The Classical period, domi...

Sound Recording for Films: A Crucial Element of Cinematic Storytelling

Sound recording is a fundamental aspect of filmmaking that significantly contributes to the overall cinematic experience. It is the process of capturing and recording audio elements that complement the on-screen visuals. These audio elements form the foundation for creating an immersive auditory experience that enhances the film's storytelling and emotional impact. Study the PDF below (for academic use only) Sound Recording for Films PDF The components of a film's soundscape are diverse and multifaceted. They include dialogues , which are the actors' spoken lines recorded on set or dubbed later; Foley sounds, which represent the actors' interactions with their surroundings and add authenticity to scenes; ambient sound, which creates a subtle background soundscape to transport the audience to the film's environment; music or score, which evokes emotion and enhances the narrative; and sound effects , which augment the film's realism and atmosphere. To capture ...

photo.graph.art.design

Search This Blog