Art has long served as a reflection of societal moods and prevailing sentiments. Prior to the 18th century, the canvas of artistic expression was dominated by biblical narratives and the figures of royalty and nobility. The common folk, deemed inconsequential in shaping history, rarely garnered artistic attention. This is particularly evident in Italian paintings of the era, where grand narratives and idealized portraits held sway.
As time marched on, so too did the themes, heroes, and methods of artistic expression. The 19th century witnessed a revolutionary shift, with the bourgeois and everyday individual taking center stage. Nature walks, bustling cityscapes, and scenes of rural life captured the essence of this era. In essence, the common people found their voice not only in politics, where the divine right of kings yielded to the power of the electorate, but also in art, where the church's monopoly on morality and artistic censorship began to crumble. A multitude of ideologies - liberal, conservative, and everything in between - blossomed, free from the shackles of rigid dogma. Artistic expression itself began to prioritize the conveyance of emotions and moods over mere visual accuracy.
The second half of the 19th century marked the dawn of Modernism, particularly in architecture, reflecting the dramatic transformation of life: the rise of machines, sprawling cities, and the grim reality of world wars. It was from this crucible that Expressionism emerged in the early 20th century, particularly in Germany and Austria. Born out of the disillusionment and anxieties fueled by the Great War and revolutionary ferments, Expressionism, as aptly described, "arose as a response to the ugliness of civilization," distorting reality through a lens of fear, disappointment, and existential dread. Literature found poignant expression of this movement through the works of Franz Kafka.
These very same sentiments - fear, disappointment, and anxiety - resonate deeply within Armenian society today. Parallels can be drawn with the post-war turmoil in Germany and Austria, where defeat gave way to a yearning for change and decisive leadership. While this sentiment may not yet fully translate into the realm of contemporary Armenian art, it permeates public discourse, pulsating through social media and the pronouncements of public figures. A palpable uncertainty hangs in the air, a yearning for a figure who can chart a course for the future and ignite the collective will to navigate its challenges.
This revised version strives for smoother flow, clarity, and historical accuracy. It strengthens the connections between different eras and artistic movements, while maintaining the core ideas about the interplay between art and societal sentiments.