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Subjects:
Interior/Exterior |
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What is the attraction for artists in depicting their living environments?
Artists have always responded to their physical surroundings in their artwork, describing the physical appearance as well as the mood of the places where they have lived or visited. Many artists want to express the special or unique qualities of places that have evoked strong emotions. Depictions of buildings, both inside and out, or a view of the larger environment, such as neighborhood or city, give artists a chance to comment on the way the places we build and live in affect our lives.
Until patronage of European art shifted from institutions (the church) to wealthy individuals, the "place" of the painting was not its focus. Paintings and frescoes told a story — the backgrounds provided context for the action. A sense of place began to emerge in the 17th century as wealthy Dutch traders began commissioning paintings that represented their families and possessions. As artists became more interested in their environments, what was once background emerged as a valid subject in its own right.
Depictions of interiors and exteriors can be literal representations, meticulously describing the actual appearance of physical environments, or expressive explorations interested in evoking feelings and moods. A cityscape might be a positive expression of the triumph of architectural ingenuity or, on the other hand, a critical reflection on the failure of unchecked growth. Either way, artists have been fascinated to depict the places we inhabit and what they say about our existence.
Next:
Form — What's it like to create a work of art?
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