第26章　芸術と創造性

Art is one of the oldest of all human activities. Long before people invented writing, our ancestors were already painting animals on the walls of caves. The desire to create something beautiful, it seems, is almost as old as humanity itself. Art takes countless forms. It includes literature, music, dance, and painting, as well as the carving of a stone statue. Today, great museums exhibit the finest of these works, and millions of visitors travel far to see them with their own eyes. What, exactly, does art do? Sometimes it tries to represent the real world as faithfully as possible. At other times, especially in fiction, it builds entirely imaginary worlds that could never exist, yet feel strangely true to the people who enter them. The deepest power of art is its effect on our feelings. A vivid painting, a brilliant piece of music, or a single line of poetry can stir a strong emotion in a way that plain facts never could. Art speaks to the heart as much as to the mind. Not all art tries to copy nature. Much modern art is abstract: instead of showing recognizable objects, it uses pure color, line, and shape. Such works ask the viewer to feel and to think, rather than simply to recognize.

Behind every finished work lies patient effort. An artist may compose a symphony or illustrate a book, but in every case real craft is required. A great work of art usually has a clear and careful structure, even when it appears free and spontaneous. Many works of art explore a common theme — love, death, freedom, or hope — and the artist's personal passion gives that theme new life. It is often a small, unexpected feature that makes one painting truly remarkable while another is quickly forgotten. In the end, art belongs to everyone. It can inspire us, comfort us, and decorate the spaces in which we live. We do not all need to become famous artists, but a life with no room for beauty and imagination would be a poor life indeed.