‘Artists’, what comes in your mind when you hear this word? There’s a certain degree of respect and awe that’s attached with the word. Apart from the ‘interesting’ component, there’s also an image of someone who’s indigent and is having trouble making the ends meet. Most people believe that the artists are deprived. Deprived of the luxuries that money brings, however just like any other belief, this one too must be questioned.
Is it really true, does art really requires one to let go of the materialistic desires of the world? Is it necessary or could it be a conscious choice? Because if we all grow up believing this theory, we’ll have more and more people refusing to pursue art, in the pursuit of a stable and opulent life.
The misconception — If you want to pursue arts, you’d have to sacrifice security, finances and emotions.
Starving Artist is a common figure in Romanticism originated in Europe with its peak in 1800–1850s.The movement emphasized intense emotion as an authentic source of aesthetic experience; huge emphasis on emotion and individualism.
There have been many artists throughout the history who made a conscious decision to live a life of poverty and live on the minimum to focus on their work. A classic representation of Romanticism, many artists in the late 18th and 19th centuries portrayed and integrated the ‘starving artist’ element in their work.
Henri Murgur wrote about 4 starving artists in Scenes de la vie de Bohome, Franz Kafka wrote a short story called ‘A Hunger Artist’,Starving artists was the basis for the operas La Boheme by Puccini and lastly one of the most important German Romanticist painter of the 18th century, Carl Spitzweg; depicted the starving artist in his famous painting ‘The poor Poet’.
The poor poet- Carl Spitzweg (1839), (source-Wikipedia)
Another important example is the painting by Vincent Van Gogh — Bedroom in Arles, which depicts the simple and minimalistic life he lived.
Bedroom in Arles — Vincent Van Gogh (1888), (source- Wikipedia)
The term ‘starving artist’ if not consciously chosen as a lifestyle, perhaps could be questioned. One must keep re-evaluating the limiting beliefs surrounding the word ‘Art’ to go beyond the common understanding. It is dynamic in nature just like us humans and thus cannot hold true to one belief for longer.
With the digital revolution in place, there are million ways to get by and focus on your art. The struggle exists, however it’s not limited to just art. It’s evident in every field of work and using the ‘lack of financial security’ card; one cannot work anymore.
If you really want what you love and love what you want, you’ll find a way!
Author- Arti Raj
Originally published at Thee Art.
