How did an increased interest in theosophy in the 19th century influence the direction of modern art?
Theosophy, as a philosophical belief system, can be traced back to ancient times. Through her two part Isis Unveiled (1877), and her theosophical society, Russian Born Mme Helena Blavatsky, a religious mystic, played a huge part in reinstating the dogmas of theosophy into the art world. Isis Unveiled was written during a time of significant change around the globe. In 1859 Charles Darwin published “On the Origin of Species”, which outlined his theory of natural selection, whilst Nietszche took the opinion that God doesn’t exist at all. These revelations, coupled with the industrial revolution and breakthroughs in science and technology, led to conventional belief systems facing a crisis. Many found their faith in conventional religion undermined, and began to question the meaning of life. Perhaps this doubt aided the popularity of Theology in the latter half of the century, as the second volume of Blavatsky’s Isis aimed to offer man a “master key to the mysteries of ancient and modern science and theology” . Her published writings challenged the beliefs of traditional western religions and modern science, by creating a merger of “eastern philosophical …show more content…
However, one could argue that a personal crisis was the catalyst for this change. Firstly, Kandinsky faced a crisis of creativity, in particular the so-called freedom of it. If creativity is not entirely free subjectively – if it remains tied to some form of objective obligation – is it truly creative? Secondly, what was the purpose of art now that society was advancing technologically? Science and technology massively benefit human life, but what does art contribute? Life serves art, but can art serve
Theosophy, as a philosophical belief system, can be traced back to ancient times. Through her two part Isis Unveiled (1877), and her theosophical society, Russian Born Mme Helena Blavatsky, a religious mystic, played a huge part in reinstating the dogmas of theosophy into the art world. Isis Unveiled was written during a time of significant change around the globe. In 1859 Charles Darwin published “On the Origin of Species”, which outlined his theory of natural selection, whilst Nietszche took the opinion that God doesn’t exist at all. These revelations, coupled with the industrial revolution and breakthroughs in science and technology, led to conventional belief systems facing a crisis. Many found their faith in conventional religion undermined, and began to question the meaning of life. Perhaps this doubt aided the popularity of Theology in the latter half of the century, as the second volume of Blavatsky’s Isis aimed to offer man a “master key to the mysteries of ancient and modern science and theology” . Her published writings challenged the beliefs of traditional western religions and modern science, by creating a merger of “eastern philosophical …show more content…
However, one could argue that a personal crisis was the catalyst for this change. Firstly, Kandinsky faced a crisis of creativity, in particular the so-called freedom of it. If creativity is not entirely free subjectively – if it remains tied to some form of objective obligation – is it truly creative? Secondly, what was the purpose of art now that society was advancing technologically? Science and technology massively benefit human life, but what does art contribute? Life serves art, but can art serve