“Art is not an end in itself, but a means of addressing humanity.”
Modest Mussorgsky
As philosopher Richard Wollheim says, art is “one of the most elusive of the traditional problems of human culture.” In its simplest manifestation, art is a form of communication that serves as a vehicle for the expression of emotions and ideas. As ideas and beliefs are culturally specific and constantly changing over time, there really is no generally agreed definition of what constitutes art. That being said, the classical branches of the visual arts are identified as painting, sculpture and architecture. Literature and poetry are considered part of the humanities or as one of the arts, while music, alongside theatre, film and dance belong to the performing arts. In this section you will discover not only specific explorations of individual art forms, but also a more detailed probing of the relationship between the visual arts and music, including painting and music, sculpture and music and architecture and music. Originally, poetry and music were treated as a unity, but gradually they have become more independent. Nevertheless, the two art forms have never forgotten their shared genetic makeup, and been intertwined for millennia. Art and music have engaged in a dynamic relationship that reveals a diverse range of human activity intended to be appreciated for their beauty.
We remember him for Little Max and the Wild Things, but artist and author Maurice Sendak (1928-2012) has shown us more than just Where the Wild Things Are. His stage works include both opera and ballet sets.
Misia Sert’s friendship and support for Diaghilev and Stravinsky continued unabated, and her financial support for both artists, particularly during the years of the Russian Revolution, saved both from financial ruin. Her role in Diaghilev’s production of the ballet Parade
It’s often said of artists that they need a solid job they can go back to once that artist thing doesn’t work out. For painter and scenic designer David Roberts (1796-1864), that solid job he could go back to was,
The Russian-born designer Roman de Tirtoff, better known as Erté (from the French pronunciation of his initials R-T), is best known for his art deco fashion designs. He also designed shoes, jewelry, did interior design, and graphic arts.
As Madame Alfred Edwards, Misia was showered with jewels by her husband, and lived in opulent surroundings served by butlers and footmen; at heart still a bohemian, she considered her new situation a ‘golden cage’. She was flattered by her
In earlier articles we’ve looked at how art has inspired music. Now, we’re taking a look at the artists working within music. The English artist David Hockney (b. 1937) works in many different media as a painter, a draughtsman, printmaker,
One of the most extraordinary and colorful women in France at the turn of the 20th century was Misia Nathanson-Edwards-Sert, née Godebska — muse, inspiration and patron of the arts to many of the most prominent writers, painters and musicians.
When you look at everything that the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was involved with, you have to cover most of the fine arts and then add a good slog of literature. He was a painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and
