Figurative or Abstract Art

Figurative or abstract? A question that brings many debates among art lovers. In fact there is no magic answer to this question. Any artwork that you acquire must continue to attract you, to fascinate you and to bring some emotions day after day.

You have to pay special attention to love at first sight. Does the work possess all it needs to age well with you? Does the theme, the medium and even the artist have what is necessary to continue years after years to stimulate you and make you discover unveiled facets?

By experience I can say that art lovers generally start with figurative works. Then if they remain in contact with the art world, perhaps they will lean towards more abstract works, less figurative, works that give more room to imagination.

Occasionally people ask "Why such artist is not painting or sculpting the same style as before? Today I find his style more abstract less figurative." The question is quite legitimate and the answer as well. This is evolution. Just like any individual, the artist evolves. The person who was an accountant twenty years ago may be a financial manager now and he will certainly not want to go back to his former employment. The artist acts the same way. It’s the sum of his experiences that he uses to create and  to show us different ways of interpreting a subject.  

One of the best example is Picasso. At the beginning of his career he delighted us with his figurative works from his blue period and then his pink period. But after, he explored another form of art, the cubist which was very different but still as interesting. Closer to us we have Riopelle who created great figurative works as well as great abstract ones. 

 To conclude on figurative or abstract art, a painting or a sculpture of quality, created by an honest artist, that can transfer his emotion in his art, will always find a kindred soul and will get years of happiness.