Why Create Art?

There is no single answer, except to say that the need to create is one of the special characteristics of being human.

There is archaeological evidence for this need to create dating back at least 25,000 years to the Venus of Willendorf sculpture.

While there is no one answer, we will go over several general purposes that art can serve.

To communicate emotion, ideas or feelings.

The Potato Eaters, 1885. Vincent van Gogh. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.

Van Gogh wanted to depict life among the lowly as it was.

What do feelings, ideas or emotions do you think that the artist intended to convey about life among the poor?

Art created to observe a ritual, for celebration or commemoration.

Tibetan sand mandalas are created from colored sand, usually over a period of several weeks.

They depict representations of Buddhist doctrine.

After completed, they are ritually swept up to symbolize impermanence.

Functional art consists of everyday objects. Examples could be pottery, basketry, and

even architecture.

Basket, c. 1920’s.Lucy TellesSmithsonian, Washington, D.C.

This type of art promotes ideas or products. Examples could include advertising,

marketing, propaganda or ideology.

We Can Do It, 1942. J. Howard Miller. This poster was originally intended to boost

worker morale. It was later used by the feminist movement.

Narrative art is used to tell stories, describe experiences, or document historical events.

Washington Crossing the Delaware, 1851. Emanuel Luetze. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Oil on canvas.

This artwork documents the surprise attack Washington made in the Battle of Trenton, December 25-26, 1776.

Art does not have to fit into one category or another.

Art could serve several functions at the same time.

Detail of stained glass window, 13th century. Notre-dame de Chartres Cathedral, Paris.

Depicts the marriage at Cana. This piece is both functional and narrative.