What is the artist’s role in society?

The artist has a responsibility to be true to themselves and an obligation to society to unearth the truth. When we browse paintings by artist’s name, we find that no painter could limit themselves to just one art piece. Freedom of self-expression and aesthetic indulgence are some aspects of art that artists couldn’t get enough of. What exactly is the artist’s role in society?

The importance of artists

Artists provide a channel of communication to those who are short of words. They give comfort and hope, and they can also be the harbingers of a movement or a revolution. They challenge the boundaries of imagination. They bring light and color to a world often wrapped up in politics and the need for survival. Artists are our gateway to the past, along with being an insight into the future.

Let’s inspect the contribution of painters closely and find a list of artists that changed the world in small, subtle ways:

Artists are the initiator of relationships

Art is subjective. And this opens a gateway to insurmountable perspectives and interpretations that are the incentive of conversations.

Artists help people connect and bond over artistic discussions, which vary from Mona Lisa’s smile to Wassily Kandinsky’s abstract paintings. In a global world, art is the pathway to cultural transcendence and shared stories.

Artists, especially famous artists, bring people together in art galleries and museums where they can physically form connections. They build a community of art lovers who come together from diverse backgrounds, only to find common grounds. Lastly, artists connect themselves to their audiences, even when they have passed away.

Vincent Van Gogh, a Dutch painter of the Post-Impressionist movement, inspired people to develop their stories of mental struggle and depression. His work even brought other artists together in the Fauvist and the Abstract Expressionist movement.

The artist’s role in society: To enhance life

Art may not fulfill human physiological needs, but it is the medium of living a more meaningful life. In the words of Robin William, “Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”

Artists may choose to illustrate a subject that’s far more upsetting than comforting. Art can be tumultuous and masochistic, and it can also be optimistic and joyful.

Irrespective of the theme, artists give depth to human emotions. People turn to art when they need an escape. It allows them to transform society and push back.

Claude Oscar Monet, a renowned French painter, found passion and love in Impressionism. However, his battle with cataracts didn’t stop him from picking up his brush and creating the exemplary “Water Lilies.” He summed up his fixation with art as:

“Color is my daylong obsession, joy, and torment.”

Artists keep a record of the past

It was the cave paintings that informed the world about primitive eating habits. Moreover, mythical oil paintings were a testament to stories in the Bible.

Renaissance painters illustrated the significant social change of the 15th and 16th centuries. Finally, the Baroque court artists gave an account of the royal lifestyle of 17th century Europe.

In the absence of technology and photographs, artists took it upon themselves to keep a historical record of the landscapes, wars, and rural and urban living. In this ever-changing modern world, art acts as a thread that binds us with the ancient ages and urges us to revive what’s been lost.

Artist’s role to inspire society to express ubiquitous emotions

Art is a medium of channeling emotions and expressing them without words. Artists’ works are often personal, so it’s fascinating when people universally relate to that work. They carry within them nostalgia and struggles of the past, and instead of keeping them caged, they let it flow on their canvases or even in the form of tattoos.

Frida Kahlo, a Mexican painter, dealt with her anguish and longing by making colorful self-portraits. Jean-Michel Basquiat, a homeless teenager, battled addiction by painting graffiti on the walls of New York and even addressed racism and slavery in his artworks.

Artists weave an instrument of societal change

When artists found a voice that was recognized as independent, they used it to tackle the boundaries of progress. Many oil painting artists indulged in revolutionary art to depict battles and wars.

The meetings and protests of the French and Russian Revolutions have all been immortalized by revolutionary artists. And so are the rallies of the Stonewall riots and the fight against Apartheid.

Many artists painted societies in such desolate conditions that it forced people to reflect and introspect. John Trumbull, Jacques-Louis David, and Édouard Manet are revolutionary painters who took it upon themselves to document the social reforms.

Conclusions on artist’s role in society

The world owes a lot to artists like Sonia Bublaitis and creators. Unfortunately, an attempt at making a list of exceptional artists is not a cakewalk. Find paintings by the artist’s last name online. Go ahead and express your gratitude to the gracious artists by decorating your blank walls with their glorious works.