What is Art

    Here is a snippet taken from Prof. Sukhvir Sanghal’s book ‘Bhartiya Chitrakala Paddhati’ which beautifully explains the meaning of Art.

   Art is a piece of work which is created by man, the important quality of which is utmost concentration, profound reflection, selection, clear expression and personalization. It is a creation by man which is expressed by concentration, deep thought, contemplation for the purpose of his own joy, not only for external happiness but to experience internal joy as well.

    Art is an expression of beauty. However, art is not only expressed in an external form but it is also an expression of emotions. Fine arts is popular not only because a brush is used to draw fine line in external form but it is an expression of subtle details of the internal soul which is why it reflects emotions and gives joy to the viewer.

      Art has also been mentioned in Indian scriptures ‘Rig Veda’ and ‘Upnishads’. Art was expressed as architecture like in the walls of ancient caves, palaces and buildings in the form of religious or ancient narratives, later slowly and gradually art took its own independent form. ‘Aaryas’ feared that if art became independent it may lose its noble ideals and form. This is the reason painting was not considered as fine arts. A few Western philosophers and aestheticians like Hegel considered painting as one of the five fine arts. Now it becomes the duty of this art that it should always aspire to be a fine art and keep its given freedom safe and secure.

       Latin root word ‘ars’/’artis’ and German root word ‘aro’ means to link, to fit in a right position. Hence art is a medium through which things or living forms can be fit in a certain way and presented. In German language the word ‘kunst’ has been used which appears to be related to ‘skills’. German expressionist Max Beckmann considers art as a bridge which joins visible and the invisible. As per Indian art connoisseur, art is a medium through which a man can come closer to his emotions and feelings.

      The word art started to be used as ‘fine art’ in English and ‘beaux art’ in French which had connection with the word ‘beauty’. Probably this is because in western aesthetics there seemed to be connection between ‘art’ and ‘beauty’. Although considering beauty as the desirable goal of art restricts the depth of art. Western aesthetics didn’t consider art beyond physical and intellectual forms. However Indian aestheticians also took into consideration the soulful aspect of art. Hence eternal bliss and joy is the soul of fine art.

      As per Indian philosophy, in reality art has not only the essence of nature and soul, but it is a medium which creates an awareness of unification with the universal consciousness. It’s a medium by which any discriminations from human life vanishes and in return it converts into joy and bliss. This is the reason; art is also considered a form of Yoga.