G R E A T    A R T

Text: Divya Agrawal

We are in the midst of the festive season and I bring to you today a very celebratory, soul stirring painting by 
Vincent Van Gogh - “The Starry Night” 

I have often wondered as to why certain Art captivates you, holds you mesmerized…Be it music, painting, poetry, there are some works that stand apart, have a universal appeal and are cherished as masterpieces. I found my answer recently while viewing “The Starry Night” online in the Google cultural Institute project. 

The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh, source: Wikipedia 

Great Art represents the pinnacle of refined expression & technique. It is the culmination of an artist’s journey, fuelled by passion and devotion to their craft; an expression of personal meanings to the spiritual & material. Great Art is evocative, soul stirring. It is inspiring and captivating.

Great Art is also a complete, harmoniously unified entity – all of its elements unite seamlessly to create a fantastic whole. Such works appear simple – our mind can read and appreciate them instantly. Behind this veneer of simplicity, however, are many layers & complexities – of mediums, thought & language. The artist deftly weaves them together to create a masterpiece.

We associate night with tranquility. Van Gogh’s depiction of a village night can be best described as “Flaming” – the sky is a playground for stars, stretching over a tranquil village; the two elements balanced and tied together with a Cypress tree in the foreground. 

Zoom in here and you will be able to appreciate the beauty of this painting. There is astonishing detail in brush strokes and choice of color. The scene at once captivates you – one can relate to it and want to be a part of it. It remains with you till long after. This truly is Great Art..

 Image: Sketch & study in Pen & Ink on Paper for The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh 
Source: Wikipedia

 

What is the genesis of the idea behind such works? 

It can be a fleeting inspiration, a thought that came to the surface one fine day, or, an amalgam of experiences – anything that the artist catches hold of while exploring the “pensieve”* of his/her mind.

Creating Art is a very intuitive and subconscious driven process. Various emotions spur an artist’s creativity. The greatest musicians have created masterpieces that convey intense agony or great joy while experiencing these very emotions in personal life. Some of the great poetry has been born out of the poet’s pathos.

Imagination & inspiration are hence the artist’s palette which colors the canvas of his/her experiences. 
 This is a beginning in the series of Inspiring art that On the Design Boat will bring to you in coming months. Enjoy with us!
* Pensieve - From Harry Potter series, A magical instrument used to view memories