Arthur Symons’ piece “Eleonora Duse,” explores the concept of craft. He discusses this actress and the beauty of her craft as she presents her art on the stage. So what is good craft? What should we be experiencing and attempting when we create our own art?
One of the most stressed upon values in the text is that art and craftsmanship should be natural.
Because it is natural it should be able to present different points of view and reflect different opinions. Arthur Symons comments that art must be “the flower and the root” thus containing the substance behind the beauty which makes it art. Another thing that Arthur Symons places importance on is that the artist should love to do it and feel strongly about their art. Yet while remaining subtle; great art does not need to be loud. Nonetheless an artist must constantly think about what they are doing, what it means, and they need to be able to create with intention. Last but not least, an artist in Arthur Symons opinion must be moldable, and able to change his/her work.
In contrast, Symons defines bad craftsmanship as “keeping nature, or the too close semblance of nature, carefully out of its composition.” In simpler terms, this means that mechanical craft can come off as fake, and in order to be natural, craft needs to feel natural to the artist.
In summary, craft is what defines both the art and the artist. Bad craft can ruin art with potential. Good craft, however, being natural, can create a lasting impression of beauty.
Symons, Arthur. “Eleonora Duse.” Studies in Seven Arts. 1907. Web. 22 Oct. 2012
~The Ruineers (Captain Tihahme)
