What is painting, and why is it needed today

So, what is painting? It would seem that everyone knows the answer to this simple question, but it is not everyone who can formulate the answer. After all, any person has his own, different from the other concept of this phenomenon.

If you ask the pragmatist what painting is, he will most likely say that this is the reproduction of the surrounding reality with the help of various coloring agents. That is, for a practical person in this action, first of all, the understanding, through which clearly crafted lines and once mastered by technology, the craftsman creates his "masterpieces". Connoisseurs have always referred to such creations as the "lower style" of the decorative image.

The historian to the question: "What is painting?" - will answer that this is one of the most important ancient arts, which originated at the dawn of time. And if first primitive people transferred to stone, wood or bronze exclusively materialized objects, then later, in the days of Ancient Egypt, they began to depict thoughts and feelings. Then came symbolism in painting - the art of showing a phenomenon or an object figuratively.

The artist, like any other person, who is able to feel and understand the essence of things subtly, to the question: "What is painting?" - will answer that it is an art that can convey a special vision of the real world and influence the feelings of people around. To do this, you need a special talent, spark, inspiration, a different view of things - you can call it differently, most importantly, to understand that someone is able to become an artist, and someone is not. And even if long and hard to learn and work, at best it will be possible to stamp simple single-type pictures. And nothing can be done, talent is measured in different ways, and it was like that at all times. In every century, great masters were born and died, and often only after the death of their canvases became known to the whole world.

The renaissance of painting was the Renaissance, which gave the world such great masters as Titian, Botticelli, Masaccio, Rembrandt, Vermeer and many others. After their time was over, the critics often diagnosed art with "decay and bad taste". However, years passed, and new artists were erected on a podium, such as Matisse, Renoir, Picasso, Aivazovsky and a whole legion of followers.

Fine art is alive and now, for example, modern oil painting is represented by the canvases of John Marcose, Robert Zeller, Jerry Winx. Perhaps, in 150-200 years, their paintings will be auctioned off for a crazy price, and they will have their followers, like the Dutch and Spanish masters of the Renaissance. Modern Russian painting also boasts such names as Anton Semenov, Georgy Dmitriev, Balakshin Eugene, so in our country this art is still relevant.

Why do we need painting in the age of electronics and all sorts of video devices? Perhaps soon this art will cease to exist? I think not, as books, theater, opera and ballet did not die. Most likely, painting will remain the lot of a certain number of connoisseurs, as well as wealthy people. That is, nothing will change, since this high art has always been only for the elite and the circle of connoisseurs.