Art for its own Sake

I have been creating works that celebrate colour, shape and texture which got me thinking about the saying 'art for art's sake'. 

Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 (Portrait of the Artist’s Mother) by James Abbott McNeill Whistler, 1871, 

via Musée d’Orsay, Paris

This infamous portrait of Whistler's mother is generally known as 'Portrait of the Artist's Mother", while its official title - Arrangement in Grey and Black No,1 - suggests the painting is nothing more than an aesthetic composition of muted colours.

Whistler also frequently painted foggy river scenes of the River Thames at night, a series titled Nocturnes. Rather than a conventional landscape painting, each Nocturne, a dreamy visual effect of light and colour comprising a flat, simple composition in a monotone colour palette with wide translucent brushstrokes. 

Walter Pater claimed that 'all art constantly aspires towards the condition of music".  Whislter was drawn to this idea as music being the most exemplary form of 'art for art's sake".  A piece of music has no narrative or subject and can be appreciated purely for its beauty.  Whistler aspired to achieve this effect in painting, even as far as naming his paintings with musical terms like Harmony, Symphony, Arrangement, Nocturne. 

Whistler explained "As music is the poetry of sound, so painting is the poetry of sight, and the subject-matter has nothing to do with the harmony of sound or colour.

Whistler helped the term 'art for art's sake' to really catch on.

Do you have an opinion on this ?

a few recent out of the studio this past week. analogue collage, contour drawing, spring flowers, #pocketfinds, a pastel, monoprint and oil painting

have you seen my monthly diary vlogs of #walkabout here is the one for August - i started this idea in June this year so i can map the differences each year.

hope you too, Dear Reader, are having a creative, healthy week.