Many of us have heard the term “sublime” in reference to art or landscapes, but what exactly does it mean? Sublime is the experience of being awestruck, overwhelmed, or emotional due to a sense of vastness or beauty that goes beyond our understanding.
Artists and writers have long tried to capture this elusive feeling, and the works they’ve produced are among some of the most profound and moving in history. This article will provide a comprehensive introduction to sublime art history, discussing everything from the Italian Renaissance to the Hudson River School in America.
Concept of Sublime in Italian Renaissance Art
The sublime in Italian Renaissance art often depicted Christ’s suffering and mortality, emphasizing that this world was not the ultimate home of the spirit. Unknowable, beautiful and powerful, this theme can be seen in works such as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Ceiling and Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
Nicolas Boileau and the Translation of On The Sublime
Nicolas Boileau translated Longinus’ 1st-century work “On The Sublime” in 1674, and it became a foundation for much of the work in the European Romantics. Boileau believed that emotion and wonder were key to the experience of the sublime, and that vast scale was essential in creating the desired effect.
Edmund Burke’s Essay on the Sublime
Edmund Burke explored the human impulses that draw us to the sublime in his 1757 essay. He posited that joy is connected to feelings of power, whereas suffering and fear are related to the prospect of dying.
Burke believed that the sublime was an important aspect of the human experience, as it allowed us to transcend our physical limitations. Immanuel Kant’s Investigation of the Sublime
Immanuel Kant delved deeper into the concept of the sublime than any of his predecessors.
He believed it involved a participant’s reaction to a combination of both the logical and kinetic sublime. The logical sublime comes from the incomprehensibility of an object, such as a massive mountain range, while the kinetic sublime is caused by the sense of danger or movement, such as seen in a powerful storm.
Various Movements that Embraced Sublime Landscapes
European Romantics and their Expression of the Sublime
The German Romantics, such as Caspar David Friedrich, Theodore Gricault, and Eugene Delacroix embraced the sublime landscape as a way to evoke emotion and wonder in their audiences. Their works often depicted massive mountains and sweeping vistas, conveying a sense of awe and overwhelming grandeur.
British and French Landscape Artists’ Response to the Sublime
British landscape artist J.M.W. Turner and his French counterpart, John Constable, were preoccupied with capturing the sublime in their works. Turner’s seascapes famously depicted turbulent and violent oceans, while Constable often painted pastoral scenes that drew attention to the vastness of the sky.
The Barbizon School was another group of artists that embraced the sublime, painting landscapes in France that were soulful, quiet, and yet immense.
The Hudson River School and its Exploration of the Sublime in American Landscapes
The Hudson River School in America was among the first to explore the sublime in American landscapes. These artists, including Thomas Cole, Thomas Moran, Frederic Edwin Church, Albert Bierstadt, and Asher B.
Durand, captured the vastness and beauty of the western frontier in their paintings. Their works often showed the power of nature through the portrayal of mountains, rivers and sunsets.
Conclusion
In conclusion, sublime art is a type of art that tries to capture the overwhelming grandeur and beauty of the natural world. Artists and writers have tried to convey this emotion for centuries with many different styles, themes and techniques.
Regardless of its form, the sublime has the power to stir deep emotions within its viewers, evoking a sense of wonder and awe that stays with us long after viewing it.
Famous Sublime Artworks
Sublime artworks have often depicted vast landscapes, monumental feats of human achievement, or even the horrors that people inflict on others. These artworks have the power to evoke intense emotions in viewers, whether awe, fear, anger or sadness.
In this section, we will explore famous sublime artworks that have captured different aspects of this elusive sensation.
The Raft of the Medusa by Theodore Gricault
Theodore Gricault’s epic painting tells the haunting story of the Medusa, a French ship that capsized off the coast of Africa in 1816. The painting captures the exact moment when the survivors of the shipwreck realize they are stranded on a raft in the middle of the ocean, with little chance of rescue.
The painting is a contemporary depiction of a horrific event, as Gricault was inspired by the survivors’ testimonies. It is a large and complex work measuring 16 feet by 23 feetalmost life-sized depiction of 150 people crammed into a raft.
Bodies are piled on top of each other, and some figures are shown as dark shapes in the water. The details of the painting are horrifying, yet realistic, with the combination of physical and emotional trauma the survivors were experiencing.
The painting captures the fear, despair, and desperation of the victims, as well as the strength of human willpower to survive.
Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows by John Constable
John Constable’s painting Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows has been described as one of the most romantic and sublime paintings from the Romantic period. It is a dramatic landscape painting that depicts Salisbury Cathedral from a distance with a stormy sky above it.
The gloomy sky seems to symbolize the chaos of the world, while the cathedral stands strong and unchanging. With the cathedral in the foreground and a rainbow in the distant background, the painting has religious symbolism, suggesting hope even in the face of environmental turmoil.
The painting captures the sublime by contrasting the forces of man-made construction and natural elements, elevating the transcendental spirituality of the painting. The Slave Ship by J.M.W Turner
The Slave Ship is perhaps one of the most controversial artworks of the Romantic era, and it continues to provoke and challenge audiences even today.
J.M.W Turner’s painting vividly depicts a slave ship sailing in the midst of a vicious ocean storm while throwing its sick and dying African captives overboard to collect on the insurance. The painting cries out against the inhumane treatment of enslaved persons and focuses on the theme of mortality, emphasizing the idea of “the sublime in the face of horror.” The painting captures the violence and brutality of the slave trade and provokes its audience, making us think deeply about the nature of humanity.
The painting is a powerful representation of the Romantics’ commitment to political liberalism and a condemnation of the brutalization of life, leaving an indelible impact on its viewers.
The Chasm of the Colorado by Thomas Moran
Thomas Moran’s depiction of the Chasm of the Colorado, which is part of the Grand Canyon, is an incredible representation of the grandeur of nature. The painting presents the viewer with a dramatic landscape of jagged cliffs, soaring cliffs and deep canyons.
The artwork captures the vastness and overwhelming scale of the natural world, making the viewer feel small and insignificant while contemplating the beauty and power of nature. The painting’s strong colors, a combination of blues, purples, and oranges, help to convey the landscape’s drama and evoke feelings of fear and awe.
The painting provides a sense of space and excitement while projecting a sense of the spiritual significance of the land.
Black Square by Kazimir Malevich
Karamir Malevich’s Black Square is one of the most unusual paintings in the history of art. It is a painting that defies categorization and representation, and it has been described as the epitome of absolute abstraction.
The painting is a black square, without any recognizable image, and its meaning resides purely in the composition and execution of the square. Black Square represents the absence of meaning and the inevitability of death, and it captures the notion of the Sublime in its abstract form.
The square is perfect, and any attempt to add meaning or interpretation detracts from its intended effect. When hanging on the wall, it serves as a reminder of the inevitability of death, the emptiness of life, and the need to confront one’s mortality.
Vir Heroicus Sublimis by Barnett Newman
Barnett Newman’s Vir Heroicus Sublimis is a large red canvas with a series of vertical bars, which has been described as purest expression of the Sublime. The painting draws the viewer’s gaze upwards, inspiring a feeling of upward movement that seems to overwhelm the senses.
The painting’s large scale is essential to its impact as it envelops the viewer, capturing one’s attention and emotions in the artwork itself. Newman believed that painting can significantly influence human psychology and positively impact the human experience.
Vir Heroicus Sublimis encourages the viewer to engage with the artwork physically, with the audience interacting with the painting rather than just observing it passively.
Conclusion
In conclusion, sublime art offers a unique perspective on the human experience, capturing the beauty that often arises from tragic or startling events. The artworks discussed above exemplify the multiple forms and themes of the sublime, from feelings of fear, awe, and emotions that come from being in nature, to the exploration of abstract concepts.
These works represent some of the groundbreaking and impactful art throughout history that has left indelible marks on the audience, provoking emotions, thoughts and discussions long after viewing them. In conclusion, the exploration of sublime art history and the famous sublime artworks discussed in this article highlight the profound impact that art can have on our emotions and our perception of the world.
From depictions of suffering and mortality to the grandeur and power of nature, these artworks evoke a sense of awe, fear, and wonder that transcends time and place. The artists and movements discussed have left an indelible mark on the art world, challenging viewers to confront the sublime and the complexities of the human experience.
Through their works, we are reminded of the beauty and power of art to inspire and move us. The sublime continues to be an important and enduring theme, inviting us to explore the depths of our emotions and our connection to the world around us.
So next time you come across a sublime artwork, take a moment to immerse yourself in its power and contemplate the depths it stirs within you.