“Down to Gehenna, or up to The Throne, he travels the fastest who travels alone.”
- Rudyard Kipling
This quote, from one of the most prized and celebrated writers of British India, seems to have posed a difficult moral question altogether. He put forward a discrepancy that seemed to oppose the social construct of Man being a social animal. This was almost like sorcery- how could man, considered to be one of the most sentient beings in the mundus, ever transcend beyond the exasperating scaffolding of human touch? Well, touché. Rudyard never referred to the social aspect of our lives but rather appealed to the intellect of the masses, he wove an idea, on several levels, that catered well to the intellectual needs of the people.
This meant that although he pressed upon the independence of the cerebrum, he too accepted that there was something, something so profound and zealous, that helped humanity outlive the difficulties posed. This something that beats despondence to its carcasses, is Art. Yes, a three-lettered word, but one, which probably holds in it the capacity to forge the burgeoning of a Phoenix which rises from its ashes. Throughout the years, Great Men have lived and perished, and never have they forgotten to tell us to not be like “dumb, driven cattle.” The uncertainty of life suggests that men need a coping mechanism in dire times. That, my fellow reader, is Art.
“Art is long, and Time is fleeting, and our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums, are beating funeral marches to the grave.”
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A picturesque description of the longevity of Art was given by “The Bard of Aroostook” in his “A Psalm of Life”. He referred to it as “stout and brave” which implies eternal magnificence. “Muffled drums” refer to the charred nature of art as not all art forms reflect the popular mood of the people- it encodes these art forms into a vinyl that can never be played, one which stood its ground with efficacy, which pertained to the people of its times. But one question always scrapes our mind, how do we know what’s Art and what is not? The answer to it simply is, Art is a form of expression which relinquishes the human soul.
One such profound field is Philosophy. It is an ideology that echoes the higher being of living souls and conjectures a utopic life with practical scenarios. Philosophers like Pythagoras, Plato, and Socrates are harmonised as Greek demi-gods owing to their questioning of The Great Life. From the Great Steppes to Hanging Gardens at Babylon, art forms are nowhere not to be found. Similarly, a few select Philosophies found their way out to the general public. Some of which were Stoicism and Scholasticism. But, not all ideologies were taken with a good heart, like The Philosophy of Obedience which remains a topic of dispute.
The great Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, was a part of the school of Stoicism. Stoicism was a Hellenistic philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens which un-masqueraded the need for outward show and taught people to practise virtues to achieve eudaimonia or well-being. Stoicism acted as a yardstick for a person to weigh himself “morally.” Philosophy is a fresco- a dried painting that shows all the souls that scorched themselves so that the “kingdom comes.” Meanwhile, Scholasticism emerged from the languished stronghold of Aristotelian philosophy. It required a rigorous appliance of logic and analysis to correlate the teachings of The Catholic Church which commanded immense authority on scientific theses of their time, with the teachings of Aristotle.
The Reformation challenged the ulterior intentions of the Catholic Church, which appealed to people who no longer could gorge themselves with the servings of Scholasticism. The Philosophy of Obedience was under great fire and was disputed to be beneficial for society. After all, obedience does not always do wonders as it stifles creativity and innovation. Philosophy cradled the Patronus of humanity and broadened human aspects of thought and reasoning.
The Last Supper, painted by Leonardo Da Vinci, is a classic Renaissance Art which centres on Jesus as a revered and divine authority.
Rome was neither built nor destroyed in a single day, but when it was, the art forms seemed to stand still, except, of course, that never was the case. Rome had fallen and so had its patronage. But it never was truly destroyed. It might have been sacked, pillaged and burnt but it was never eradicated. Soon, Christian Art resurrected the soul of Rome which further championed the cause of numerous Crusades and holy wars. Mosaics and frescoes emerged in the Medieval Age and adorned the Renaissance, or “The Rebirth”, and reflected the morale of Christian Europe.
Another one of Da Vinci's masterpieces, Mona Lisa continues to mesmerise both artists and admirers.
There was an explosion of such art forms, but only a few could arduously catch the public eye. One such example, The Sistine Chapel Ceiling by Michelangelo, surpassed all expectations of the Middle Ages. Just as the figures in his paintings stood prominently against the backdrop, so has it endured the judgement of time. These artistic masterpieces, akin to the impactful Magna Carta, have proven their immortality by standing the test of time.
These immortal art forms represented the essential phases of the spiritual development of humankind seen through a very dramatic relationship between the earthling and God himself. The Medieval Age comprised phases of Early Christian Art, Migration Period Art, Byzantine Art, Insular Art, Pre-Romanesque Art, Romanesque Art, and Gothic Art. Some got charred throughout time and some continue to impact the lives of people. The fall of Constantinople forever altered Catholic art forms, fragmenting them, while simultaneously introducing a greater integration of scientific techniques into the art that followed.
Amidst the dynamic progression and interconnected existence, the modern world stands tall as a crucible of innovation. The contemporary world, like Art, is a tapestry that weaves elusiveness, liberation, isolation, and ideological maelstrom together which ushers brightly in the eyes of the correct and just. Welcome to a world where Art is Charred, Impermanent, and yet Eternal; like Dali’s moustache, things are crooked, possibilities are boundless, choices are dynamic, and the challenges, formidable.
A shot from the movie Interstellar shows the artistic prowess of modern filmmaking.
This period of Art possibly has had the most diversity in terms of styles, mediums, and ideologies. From paintings to films, from Pablo Picasso to Christopher Nolan, Art is both abstract and visionary. Art, as a transcendent medium, employs its aesthetic prowess to deconstruct paradigms, illuminate ontological depths, and redefine the very essence of human existence. Through its interplay of form, colour, and conceptual frameworks, art unveils profound narratives that challenge preconceived notions and propel society toward transformative introspection.