Art's Role in Today's World

May 8, 2022

We find ourselves living in tumultuous times. The past two and a half years have been especially trying, but if you look back through history, each decade or era has had its share of challenges to deal with, so I'm not sure we're all that special. The 1930's had the Great Depression, the 1940's had World War II, the 60's dealt with Vietnam and Civil Rights violence. The list goes on and on. For each of these historical eras, going back to the Renaissance, art has always reflected an aspect of the world at large.

An iconic image of the Great Depression, Dorothea Lange's Migrant Mother communicates the fear, sadness, and struggle of many Americans.

An iconic image of the Great Depression, Dorothea Lange's Migrant Mother communicates the fear, sadness, and struggle of many Americans as they fought to survive.

Dorothea Lange's "Migrant Mother", taken in 1936, is one example of art communicating the general feeling of a country, during the Great Depression. While the details of the woman's situation are a matter of dispute, the overall story of a mother struggling to raise her children as a migrant worker during the Depression is one many at the time identified with, and many continue to identify with over 80 years later. The two children, tired and hanging on to their mother for support, the look of deep concern on the mother's face, her tired eyes, and slightly disheveled look, is something I think all of us can relate to in one way or another.

"Guernica" by Pablo Picasso, considered one of the most moving and powerful anti-war paintings in history.

"Guernica" by Pablo Picasso, considered one of the most moving and powerful anti-war paintings in history.

Photographers and photojournalists aren't the only ones to have a say in current events as far as artists go. Pablo Picasso's "Guernica" has long been regarded as one of the most powerful anti-war paintings ever created. It was painted in response to a Nazi bombing of the Basque Country town of Guernica on April 26, 1937 during the Spanish Civil War. In viewing the painting, one can feel the horror of war, as depicted by a gored horse, screaming women, a bull, a dismembered soldier, and a dead baby, and flames.

Picasso had been commissioned to create a painting for the 1937 Paris World's Fair by the Spanish Republican government, and was working on sketches for the painting when the bombing occurred. He was then approached by poet Juan Larrea to make the bombing the subject of his painting. After reading accounts of the bombing in the New York Times, Picasso decided to agree to Larrea's suggestion.

A crying eye reflects the horror of the war in Ukraine. By UK street artist My Dog Sighs.

A crying eye reflects the horror of the war in Ukraine. By UK street artist My Dog Sighs.

Sadly, the war continues to be an ongoing theme throughout history, as Russia has been waging war on Ukraine since this past February. We've all seen art in some form or other created by artists to express their outrage over Russia's invasion. The crying eye with the Ukraine flag, created by UK street artist My Dog Sighs, is a powerful piece expressing the sadness and anger over the situation in the Baltics. The artist was inspired to create this piece after a bombing in Kyiv. The painting features a silhouette of St. Sofia's Cathedral in Kyiv, as a explosion blooms behind it. The crying eye speaks for itself as the world has recoiled in horror and anger over these attacks. The painting was done in Cardiff, Wales, in the UK.

The Tetons and the Snake River, by Ansel Adams (1942)

The Tetons and the Snake River, by Ansel Adams (1942)

So it's pretty clear that some artists use their artistic voice to express anger, or sadness, or fear, in photographs and paintings. Art has always been a reflection of society and has played an important role in societal change. But what about "pretty art"? Is that somehow less important simply because it does not convey a sense of sadness, anger, or struggle? I don't believe so. Because despite the fact that beautiful photos or paintings are more comfortable to look at, the message they convey is no less important.

Ansel Adams' documenting of the American landscape from the 1920's through the 1970's were a means of a positive message, showing what would be saved if we conserved our resources, as well as being aspirational images that many take inspiration from. While many artists show us the struggle, others choose to show the reward. The carrot vs. the stick, if you will.

Sun shines on Bridalveil Falls as seen from Tunnel View in the late afternoon at Yosemite National Park.

Tunnel View at Sunset

The last rays of the day highlight Bridalveil Falls in Yosemite National Park. Tunnel View is a scenic overlook on State Route 41 in Yosemite National Park. The iconic and expansive view of Yosemite Valley from the view point have been seen and documented by visitors since it opened in 1933.

In addition to having a positive message of conservation, as opposed to say, conveying a negative one by way of showing photos of garbage on beaches, pretty landscape photos offer a form of escapism. I've written before on the mental health benefits of hanging landscape and nature photography in your home or office. Let's face it, many people don't watch the news, or spend much time on social media, due to the negativity that's prevalent in those forums. I know that personally, I find my insides tightening in frustration when I spend too much time reading about current issues at hand. I do so because I feel I need to be informed.

Sunset on Rodeo Beach, California.

Sunset on Rodeo Beach

Two sea stacks stand guard, framing the radiance of the setting sun on Rodeo Beach in Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California. The sky, streaked with pink, orange, yellow, and blue hues, creates a vibrant backdrop for the ruggedness of rocky shoreline, while the waves washing over the sand and around the rocks, bring a sense of motion to the otherwise tranquil scene.

At the same time, once I'm done reading the news, almost invariably, I dive into my work, or look at others' work, as a means of escaping those feelings of anger and frustration over issues and situations I have little control but affect me directly. I firmly believe that some artists use their voice to bring our attention to issues, and to express their own feelings on those issues. But I also believe that those of us who deal in "pretty pictures" serve an equally important purpose. We all need to escape a bit. We all need to be able to get away from the craziness of the modern world at times. And that's where artists like me, who take pretty pictures, come in.

A canopy of autumn foliage arches over Kaaterskill Creek near Hunter, New York.

Kaaterskill Creek

This stunning photo of Kaaterskill Creek allows you to experience the beauty of autumn in the Catskill Mountains all year long. Taken at dawn, the mist creates a magical aura around the glowing creek surrounded by lush trees displaying their autumn foliage. A silent canopy of color looms over the creek, while the water flows through the rocky creek bed. Kaaterskill Creek is located in the eastern Catskill Mountains of New York, on the north side of Kaaterskill Clove, between the hamlets of Haines Falls and Palenville in Greene County's Town of Hunter.

Think about it for a second. In March of 2020, when the pandemic caused the country to lock down, where did we all turn? To the arts. We binged TV shows on Netflix, we turned to books, we turned to music, and we turned to photos and paintings and drawings to help us pass the time, to escape, to feel better. We used art as a salve as we were all hurting a bit, missing our friends, fearful of what might happen next. It's actually pretty amazing that art tends to be very versatile. It communicates our pain, but also eases it. It conveys complex and intense emotion, but can also provide calm.

Wells Beach, Maine, illuminated by the predawn twilight at low tide, is a study in tranquility. The sky painted in shades of...

Dawn on Wells Beach

Wells Beach, Maine, illuminated by the predawn twilight at low tide, is a study in tranquility. The sky painted in shades of lavender, deep purple, and orange as the dawn breaks, casts an ethereal glow over the landscape. The wind and water have created intricate patterns in the wet sand, showcasing the fluidity and artistry of nature. Glassy and still, the tide pool is a perfect mirror for the breathtaking sky, while the rocks behind it are rugged and textured, adding depth and dimension to the scene. The combination of the calm water, rippled sand, and the colors of the sky make for a stunning image, capturing the peacefulness of the beach in the early hours of the day.

I've always been a bit of an idealist. Some have called me naive for it. They can call me what they want. I don't much care what people say about me. But I firmly believe in focusing on the good, on what can be done to change things, rather than focusing on the negative and shrugging my shoulders and accepting what is. So I continue to seek out beautiful landscapes, beautiful people, and beautiful happenings, as a focus of my work. My work is my voice. I know we need those who point out the bad in this world. I'm not Pollyanna here. But we also need those who show us the good, and show us what can be.

Tumbledown Pond lies below the summit of Tumbledown Mountain in Weld, Maine.

Tumbledown

Tumbledown Mountain in Weld, Maine is a popular destination for hikers. Just below the summit lies Tumbledown Pond, a pristine alpine lake and popular place to swim and relax for hikers on the trail.

The mountainsides are blanketed with a dense cover of trees, their branches reaching skyward, creating a vibrant canopy of greens and browns. The sun shines down from a indigo blue sky filled with clouds, illuminating the landscape and casting a warm glow over the forest below.

A maple sugram shack sits under a fresh blanket of snow in Vermont.

Winter at the Maple Sugar Shack

A classic maple sugar shack sits under a blanket of fresh snow in Vermont. Firewood to feed the boilers is stacked outside, ready to start boiling sap down to a sticky maple syrup.

Goonies Island stands in the calm waters of Casco Bay just offshore from Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park in Freeport, Maine.

Wolfe's Neck Reflections

Googins Island appears like a small oasis in the calm, glimmering waters of Casco Bay in Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park in Freeport, Maine. The sky is painted with cobalt blue hues with a touch of orange at the horizon, while the evergreen trees on the island provide a captivating contrast of dark colors against the vibrant early morning sky. The serenity of the scene creates a spellbinding image, as if time itself has stopped in honor of the island's beauty.

Posted in Fine Art and tagged current events, world, news, escapism, .