Catholic Artists and Purity

[goshngolly]

Anyone out there who is a Catholic artist could you give some thoughts on purity and viewing the human body in art? I want to know what constitutes the difference between objectification of a human in a picture vs. appreciation of beauty. If you have any clear points you use for determining this I’d love to hear him them.

Also, do you think it is possible to create a piece of art, and feel impure thoughts but the result be pure and acceptable and used for good? Or, is something created with these thoughts not acceptable for viewing?

I feel called to art, but get discouraged that I may not be holy enough to create art. But, the thought makes me very sad because I desperately want to create great and beautiful art that inspires others. Any guidance would be appreciated. It is hard to feel frustrated and spiritually blocked in one’s calling.

God Bless

 

[the_phoenix]

I am an artist who specializes in landscape scenes and abstract nature.
As a photographer, the only people I work with are fully clothed, and that’s been
basic portraits.
I’ve taken a few shots of statues of the Blessed Mother.

As for your question, which I assume is about artistic nudes,
I once asked this question of an artist friend of mine.
The opinion I received is that it can be pure if the human body is drawn or painted in proportion … God made the human body beautiful.
It’s impure if certain suggestive portions are rendered in an exaggerated way, for example.
I hope this helps.

I would add that if you find something to be a near occasion of sin, then it’s best to follow your conscience and avoid it.

God bless you as you discern your artistic future.

 

[Beautiful]

vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_23041999_artists_en.html

A (1999) letter to artists from Pope John Paul ll

hope this helps

 

[Ad_Orientem]

I’m not a professional artist, but I have given some thought to this question.

It’s not easy to define what exactly makes a piece of art have a certain effect. It’s much easier to ask what the purpose of the art is, and what its effect in fact is. An artist may not be successful in achieving his aims (whether pure or otherwise), but if you are the artist, you can at least begin with pure aims. And although a work of art can affect people differently, we can still say it has a general effect or tendency. If you’re not sure, ask others to look at your work, or at a rough draft.

As far as criteria, what do you think of these questions:

1. Is it designed for the purpose of arousing the viewer?
2. Would you be ashamed (on moral grounds) to show it to our Lord?

The artwork in the great basilicas in Rome, and the Sistine Chapel have lots of partial and full nudity, but it is obviously not designed with impure aims.

That said, Phoenix makes an excellent point about near occasions of sin. You may want to talk with your priest or confessor about this in order to help you discern what’s best for you.

 

[goshngolly]

Thank you