The term Sublime in Art History has been used to describe the experience of awe, fear and beauty that is evoked in the presence of artwork. It has been described as an emotional reaction to an artwork, which transcends our normal understanding of beauty and is often associated with a deep sense of pleasure. The Sublime is something that cannot be explained in words, but rather must be experienced directly.
The concept of the Sublime has been around for centuries, being discussed by philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. It was not until the 18th century that it began to be more widely discussed within the art world. This period saw a shift from classical ideals towards a more romanticized understanding of art, which embraced emotions such as terror and awe.
During this period, the term ‘Sublime’ was most commonly used to describe landscapes or other natural scenes which were seen as particularly awe-inspiring. These scenes were often accompanied by descriptions which highlighted their dramatic qualities, such as stormy skies or vast oceans. Many Romantic painters sought to capture these scenes in their artwork, in order to evoke strong emotion from their viewers.
In addition to landscapes, some artists also sought to use the concept of the Sublime in order to explore human emotions and experiences. For example, 19th century artist JMW Turner focused on painting images which explored themes such as death and destruction in an abstract way. His work was seen as particularly powerful because it captured feelings which could not be expressed through words alone.
Today, the concept of the Sublime continues to be explored within modern artworks. Contemporary artists have begun experimenting with different ways of capturing this emotion through their work; often using techniques such as abstraction or minimalism in order to evoke a sense of awe from their viewers.
The Sublime is an important concept within Art History because it provides us with an insight into how people have experienced artwork throughout history. By exploring this concept we can gain an understanding into how emotions are expressed through artworks and how different forms can evoke strong reactions from viewers.
Conclusion: The Sublime is an important concept in Art History because it allows us to explore how people have experienced artwork throughout history and how different forms can evoke strong emotions from viewers. By looking at works from different periods we can gain an understanding into how powerful works can transcend our normal understanding of beauty and evoke feelings such as terror and awe instead.