The Sublime in Art- A Critical

Study
DR. NEETA KABOTRA
(Associate Professor and H.O.D. Department of Fine Arts R.R.M.K. Arya Mahila
Mahavidyalaya)
(Under Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar)

Sublime is bliss for an Artist. It teaches us how to appreciate, select, arrange and create.
Without sublime, Art will never become a language of communication, nor will it express the
deepest feelings of an Artist. Rather, it will prevail as just a hollow brush stroke that has no
connection with expression. The sublime creates fundamental distinction between spiritual
realizations of a true artist and his intellectual knowledge. The words Grand and
Magnificent are the best adopted to express the Sublime in Art. The Sublime first came to
mans attention not as an aesthetic category but as a figure of speech. It is possessed by an
Artist as a natural gift from the Almighty God right away in the Mothers womb. It was born
with Adam and Eve.

Introduction:
Sublimation in an Artists context generates creative emotions in mind and provides clarity of
mind. It embodies in ideals of unknown. It purifies brain and creates an atmosphere through
which all hidden desires, deep sorrows and unfulfilled passions having distractive power
come out of heart and hence controls mental obsession.
A rationalistic thinker with consciousness of super- interaction with space, relativity and
sense of perception is identified with the Truth. The interactive consciousness with Sublime
thoughts does not doubt the knowledge of artist and directs him towards spirituality and leads
to a path of immense creative richness.
Inspired by heaven, now there sounded
The voice Peter, rich and loud: begin with Gods help! By a crowd
Of favorites and friends surrounded,
He steps forth from his tents .His eyes
Blaze, and his stem face lighting, lends it
Awesomeness. Hes swift, hes splendid!

Gods storm is he in human guise.

Legends and Primitive References:
There are many stories regarding the Commencement of Art with sublime bliss. One of the
well-known legends is
One of the Brahmins Sons passed away. He was sorrow stricken and was lamenting and
weeping over his childs premature death. At that time, God Vishnu appeared and asked him
the reason of his melancholy. On being told the whole story, Lord Vishnu asked him to draw a
portrait of his son. The Brahmin did as was told by the Deity, and the moment the drawing
completed, the benevolent Lord brought the lifeless graphic to reality, and thus the dead son
was resurrected of Death. Some feel that the birth of Sublime art is direct outcome of
mans desire to communicate and delineate his feeling in a lasting illustration and manner and
nature has been his inspiration.
The law of modes of Sublime art since primitive times has been the same. What has changed
is the aim of expression hence, only media differed. To begin with, a canvas starts connecting
to a man are mind and with time intermingles with the life and religion of the Artist. Sublime
is not limited or circumscribed, it concludes that man does not live by bread alone and our
senses need nourishment. Sublime art supplies those needs that fulfill the aesthetic sense of
man and connect him to the Greatest Creator- God. Sublime is as essential in art as is air and
water for human life,
without it man would not have gained any culture or civilization. It adds Divinity and
Universalization of Spiritual Domination.
Explanation and Sources:
Sublime is an immortal source of prayer for the Artist or an observer and fills the remaining
vital gap in an idle and meaningless life. It proclaims through itself the famous words of John
Keats- a thing of beauty is a joy forever. Its loveliness increases to a level that it never
fades into nothingness..
If Sublime is used in education, painting, decoration, medical illustration of human body, in
teaching visual aids or in any construction of plans that one can ever imagine, it will become
mirror of art through which one can see gradual and constant development of creative values.
Naming the major spiritual sources sublime (original ideas, extra ordinary passions, the
beauty of speech combined with the greatness of thought). The sublime was far removed
from bustle everyday life, petty vanity, the desire to dominate: Such are riches, dignities,
honour, power and those other specious and as it were theoretical things, which
notwithstanding all their outward pomp, will never be esteemed real and substantial goods in
the judgment of a wise man. On the contrary, no greater good can accrue to us. Sublime art as
a powerful natural source reflecting the greatness of God, which had a profound
Philosophical meaning and could help to solve the problem of Meaning of Life. This in
turn leads to the process of Nobel disdain greatness of soul. A sublime phenomenon is grand
and comprehensible and gives repulsion, amazement and delight. Sublime is a gust of wind

during a thunderstorm which is a hundred times stronger than usual winds or the love which
rises above qualitative frightens of a man. The sublime is the aesthetic a property of subjects
which have positive value for society but also possess unexplored potential.
The sublime is an objective aesthetic property of objects and phenomena which have
considerable positive social significance affecting the life of nations and mankind as a whole.
The grace of sublime is the beautiful realm of mans freedom, religious and mystical ideas
which identify itself with God.
Conclusion:
Sublime in art is mysteriously grimier light coming through stained glass windows. The
subdued light, the ore of mystery and the rush of heavenly worlds combine to produce the
effect of unreality far removed from the humdrum existence but the view behind the sublime
to art is purely psychological state is a suggestion off mans potential power, which has yet to
revile itself. It is on the world job of busting forth the very image of the sublime- the beauty
which is right here but does not yet quite obey men. Adopting the process of sublime
submission, an artist is carious and vain, His soul becomes blinded, lightning mad with
emotions and he gives the outcome of particularly elevated style. Here is the description of
sublime in art form is selections exhausting terms belonging to elevated style and creates an
impressive pictures.
Importance of sublime in arts is mirror of social life sand beliefs it gives freedom to thought,
expression and exploration.it can be appropriately exclaimed that Sublime Art is pen of
creative spirit which has universal appeal. It grows with growth of the artisan and dances with
its rhythm. Sublime makes the rocks to speak, stones to sing and caves to remember the cry
of joy and hope and makes art an immortal form of dreams. It gives initiative spirit and create
ancestral faith in religion and thus unfolded vision of reality occurs, which reflects
independent reality in best manner through art and the creation of artist becomes living spirit
forever
Sublime in Art related original Painting work by the Author (Dr. Neeta Kabotra) in Oil
on canvas:

1.Orison Moon Mary

2. University Of Spritual Domination

References:
1) The Sublime by Simon Morley
2) Beyond the Finite: The Sublime in Art and Science by Professor Roald Hoffmann
(Editor), Professor Iain Boyd Whyte (Editor)
3) The Apocalyptic Sublime by Professor Morton D Paley, Northrop Frye
(Photographer)
4) Philosophy and Religion by M. Kirti Singh
5) The Meaning of Art by Herbert Read
6) The Sublime by Philip Shaw