Visual art began in prehistoric times. About 14,000 years ago, an anonymous artist painted a charging bison in dazzling red, black and gold on the ceiling of Altamira Cave in Spain. It is one of more than 100 paintings depicting a hunt. Whatever their original purpose, the Altamira paintings show that art plays a role in preserving history. As Williams noted in his essay, the arts are "a medium of human communication and understanding."
"Art" refers to many creative endeavors, including music, drama, literature and visual creations, including advertising, film and paintings. It also encompasses the work of artisans who create objects, such as pottery, stained glass lampshades and jewelry. Some contemporary art museums are even finding beauty and artistic stimulation in objects as unexpected as nuclear bomb casings and rocket engines.
What is the purpose of art? In the world of education alone, Williams cited such functions as providing a bridge to understanding between cultures, inspiring creativity and critical thinking, helping to excite children about learning, building self-esteem and developing skills such as analysis. Art may sooth and entertain viewers or confront and shake them up. It may improve work and home environments, attract tourists to city centers, increase business traffic and just generally make life more enjoyable.
It is difficult to quantify the dollar impact of investing in art education and public art projects. However, as John Tusa, a British arts administrator, wrote in the online edition of The Guardian, "The arts regenerate the rundown and rehabilitate the neglected. Arts buildings lift the spirits, create symbols that people identify with, and give identity to places that may not have one. Where the arts start, jobs follow."
Is an artisan an artist? Writing at the online website SearchWarp about the societal value of art, jewelry designer Dianne Lehmann notes that art "like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder." Lehmann ponders why different branches of the arts dismiss each other, saying that "anything useful" is crafted and not art. In contrast, Lehmann sees art everywhere, even in the sleek design of her refrigerator. She says that purchases of common objects may be driven by "shape, color and design."