People asked me once – why do you paint? I replied – because it is an escape from my miseries. Now the often-asked question is- What is the reason behind this escape? But why should we need any reason for that? Is it essential to explain all the actions performed by humans?
Art for art’s sake - the idea arose in the nineteenth century as a response to the prevalent assumption that art should have a moral or political purpose. This movement's supporters like Gautier and Vandyke asserted that art should exist solely to serve its aesthetic merits and not be burdened with the task of transmitting a moral or social message. Art gives satisfaction and peace to the heart and does not just serve a logical purpose. Individuals are not logical and irrationality has defined much of human existence and history. And the point is not just academic. The desire to impose rationality, to make people or society more rational, mutates into spectacular outbursts of irrationality. Human beings are emotional creatures supposed to be irrational. Similarly, not every piece of art needs a rational reason behind its formation. Artists should be permitted to choose their subject matter and express aesthetics through their craft instead of being pinned down to limit themselves to the confines of logic, reason, and cause.
George Sand said: “Talent imposes obligations. Art for the sake of art is a vacuous phrase. Art for the aim of truth, good, and beauty. That's the faith I've been searching for.”. Prominent figures related to the Craftsmanship for Art's Purpose development incorporate Théophile Gautier, a French writer and faultfinder, and Algernon Charles Swinburne, an English artist. The development had a noteworthy impact on afterward imaginative developments, counting viewpoints of Imagery and Aestheticism. Whereas the Craftsmanship for Art's Purpose development confronted feedback for its seen separation from social issues, it played a significant role in challenging customary standards and extending the boundaries of imaginative expression. The development contributed to the broader advancement of craftsmanship within the late 19th and early 20th centuries, clearing the way for unused shapes of aesthetic experimentation and development.
Critics might say that art without any purpose can make an artist a parasite just like a woman with beauty and no moral character.
Oscar Wilde’s concept belonged to and raised the stakes of this intellectual movement. If art does not primarily ‘imitate’ life or nature, then what does it do? Wilde’s striking response to this question is that ‘Life imitates Art’. When art is left to itself then it might degenerate. Marxists and socialists have argued that art should have a political purpose or give a social message. But art is more than a moral or social message, it is about expression, beauty, form, composition, and serene aesthetics. John Finnis claims that craftsmanship is the expression of feeling. Afterward, to ensure a tasteful encounter from subjectivity, Finnis claims that stylish involvement is fair in the shape of information. Not everything needs to serve a visible or tangible purpose to resolve the rising problems of humanity. One turns to poetry in search of the words their feeling cannot express. A tired student might listen to music after a long day to soothe his nerves. A rich businessman can buy a painting at the exhibition to decorate his living area. Colouring building has nothing to do with even emotional or wealth expression but just beauty. All of this is serving either a sentimental or some personal cause. The modern industrial world promotes the division of labour, and modern machines promote all aspects justifying a reason. Everything should have a meaning and all of the things should be uniform but all of us have different journeys.
So, we can say that art can be an escape for some or a reality for others. For some art is the medium through which they tell stories to the world. For some ideologies, it can only serve a political or social purpose. A few artists may be driven by individual investigation, whereas others may look to lock in with societal issues or communicate particular messages through their work. Artists often create based on intrinsic motivation, internal motivation, or a deep need for self-expression. The process of creating art can be inherently beneficial, providing artists with a way to explore their unique emotions, ideas, and perspectives. artists should be free from external pressures or expectations, allowing them to experiment, innovate, and express themselves authentically. Although this perspective has influenced many different artistic movements, it is important to note that an artist's motivations can be diverse and multifaceted. The expressions, modes of expression that utilize ability or creative energy within the creation of tasteful objects, situations, or encounters that can be shared with others. Conventional categories inside the expressions incorporate writing (counting verse, show, story, and so on), the visual expressions (portray, drawing, form, etc. Thus, there are several aspects related to art but an artist needs no reason to do art.