Sometimes artists work because they are bored. Sometimes they do it for the money or the fame. Sometimes they are just nuts and can't do anything else. Some do it for the love of creation. Some claim it is destiny. Sometimes they set out to do something really important, and that's what we are talking about today. Art that sets out to answer The Big Questions.
This is Paul Gauguin's Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? interestingly, these questions are addressed from right to left.
This piece is pretty big in real life. The short side is over 5 feet long. Under the theory that important=big, I'd guess that Gauguin had a lot of faith in his answer to these pressing life questions. To read an explanation of the painting click here. I don't think that Gauguin was successful in answering the questions, but if he was he'd be some kind of prophet. I think it is a good piece of art even though it fails to do what the artist wanted it to do. I dont' think that's a problem. Why should the artist be required to see the end from the beginning? That would really take a prophet. Anyway, there are those that argue that the artist's intent doesn't matter anyway.
3 comments:
I"ve always wanted to be so nuts I couldn't do anything else but make art. As it is now I have lots of ideas in my head and to many "other" things taking up my time and am apparently to sane to devote the time to putting my ideas to creation.
no kidding. i've had this dream about an elephant quilt for what seems like hours. too bad i'm not insane enough to get off the couch and sew it.
I know what you're getting for christmas. . . .
Post a Comment