For centuries, countless art critics and historians have theorized and analyzed the question of what makes art art. Leo Tolstoy, a revolutionary of his time, argued in his” What is Art” that true art could only be created as a shared emotional and moralistic experience between the artist and the viewer ( Tolstoy, 2021). Art is universal and transcends from canvas and sculpture to anything that conveys a deep emotional connection between people. Art is to be a sincere and authentic shared human experience. Tolstoy argued that art didn’t exist for its own sake but is measured by its service to humanity. Tolstoy dismissed elite art as visual fodder and argued that it was not universal art and that only a select few understood and appreciated it. True art dismisses It is exclusive and elusive and enforces a gap between the rich and poor. The poor must focus on survival and must work, and little time left over is spent with family. The rich have the time and space for leisure matters and to focus on art and theories. Emotion connects humans beyond class and gender. Through infectious emotion, Tolstoy argued that art is an intentional visual representation that infects the view with the artist's emotions. Tolstoy states:
And universal art, by uniting the most different people in one common feeling, by destroying separation, will educate people to union, will show them, not by reason but by life itself, the joy of universal union reaching beyond the bounds set by life (Tolstoy,2021).
Tolstoy’s
theory has merit in examining how art can titter in obscurity and symbolism
that only a select few, usually the rich and elite, can understand and appreciate.
Art should be accessible to everyone regardless of socioeconomic status, gender,
and color. Emotion adds richness to the artwork and elevates the work. The goal
of art is to create a connection between the viewer and the artist’s artistic
vision, and inciting emotions can bridge that gap. Tolstoy, with his view that
art had a moralistic obligation of service to humanity, has a connection with
his Christian religious background. He tied art to church worship to incite the
same feeling. The issue with this is that many different people have different beliefs
and ideas about morals. Morality is fluid, and the human race isn’t perfect. Emotions
are an integral part of art, as are thoughts and ideas. In “ Art Theory: A Very
Short Introduction,” Cynthia Freeland writes that critics argue that “The
expressiveness is in work, not the artist.” a work of art may take many weeks
or months to complete, which the artist feels many emotions during this time (2003,
p.43).
Looking at Judy Chicago’s “ Dinner Party” with Tolstoy’s view of art, one would see that this artwork lacks a universal emotional connection. The large triangular table is dedicated to 1,038 women and has thirty-nine place settings, each commemorating an important woman from history. The elaborate setting hosts golden chalices, utensils, and porcelain plates with raised vulvar and butterfly forms created in the style of the honored individual women. Chicago's artwork often focuses on feminist topics and gender equality. Important topics that affect women’s lives. Chicago must have been through a flux of emotions while undertaking this time-consuming project. The creative thought process and insight into women’s issues and confrontation of the art world is reflected in the “ Dinner Party.” People may not understand or care about it, but it is still created with the creative intention to bring awareness to these great women and their impact on the world.
Dinner party (1974-79) Judy Chicago
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