Serena Ahmad (9) | STAFF REPORTER
Art is often created to reflect society by revealing the state of something at a specific time or place. It allows spectators to see things from a variety of perspectives other than our own. However, art pieces don’t solely have to be perceived as a representation of society but instead be viewed from the context of the artist.
Art tends to be very subjective as it is an outlet for self-expression. When choosing to paint something that was once relevant or is currently relevant to society, artists may interpret it differently. The way they choose to translate their ideas to their canvas may not fully mirror society as how we imagined it. This makes it especially important to recognize that these pieces are not just the content visually displayed but also the perspective and thought process of the artist. For example, Norwegian artist Edvard Munch’s iconic painting called The Scream depicts raw emotions such as fear and anxiety, and feeling alienated from society. It was a reflection of Munch’s mental health and was originally deemed as controversial due to the incorporation and emphasis on unsettling themes. This piece is a prime example of the significance of viewing art from the lens of the artist. If we look past its disturbing demeanor, it exhibits the artist’s personal experiences which may change our interpretation of it.
The artist themself is a significant factor for how art can be studied as a representation of the context in which it was painted. Their individual experiences shape their artwork and can demonstrate a completely different narration of society that we may not be able to fully grasp based on our personal experiences. Artists who come from marginalized backgrounds and who communicate their struggles allow others, who may not have had to cope with a similar experience, to effectively understand a foreign perspective.
Art isn’t solely a commentary of society, but rather the viewpoint of the artist who created it. There tends to be an underlying message that the artist ‘hides’ which provides us with an insight to their world.
