Have you ever thought why the appreciation of art has remained limited in its appeal for the common man of this world? While artists have been concentrating on their art and of how to improve upon their painting skills, I think the efforts to bring the common man on the street to appreciate the great works of art masters are at their best still much below what is required in this regard.
I am sure even the common man of this world has a dormant desire to appreciate the beauty of art. Maybe, he has not had the time, engrossed though he may be in his own world, but definitely he has not been completely shorn of the faculty of appreciating art. In comparison, the world of music has observed wide recognition and acclaim from people all over the world and in significantly more numbers than the world of art has ever seen.
For this difference, I think some inherent reasons are responsible. Hearing is a faculty that a human being can indulge in while carrying out other tasks. Further, most people can appreciate music, although they may be not grasping the subtle nuances that good ears for music can point out. Another related aspect is that the marketing of music is easier than marketing art to the common man.
The main reason for this difference however, is that for appreciating art you need to find the time and plan a schedule for going to an art gallery as it is purely a visual medium. In comparison, music comes directly to a common man in his home as you can hear music at your own sweet time and convenience and at comparatively lesser expense. Another related aspect is that while the public at large does not require any background in music to appreciate it, the same is not applicable in the case of visual art.
Appreciating visual art requires an aptitude for it and an understanding of the salient points of good and bad art. It requires a special sensibility in a person that comes with more and more exposure to art. Appreciating art requires attention to and the development of a special sense in a visual observer, period. That is why it is found that while some people go into raptures when they observe a particularly good piece of abstract painting, the common man simply cannot relate in any way to it.
Moreover, there is a sense in the common man that there is nobody to guide him in how he can cultivate the appreciation of art. It is high time therefore, that the world of art starts looking into educating the general public about this aspect. There is much to be gained through such an enterprise, for who knows, it may just unearth many more art lovers, connoisseurs, and budding geniuses in the making. No wonder it has been said by Edgar Degas that art is not what you see, but what you make others see, isn't it?
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