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| Frank Stella, The Mat-Maker, 1990 |
Today's entry from André Gide's journal dates from Monday, May 7th, 1906. It is quite poignant and raises questions about the utility of art and literature, as well as the concept of art for art's sake. It reminds me of what Kant said about aesthetic contemplation: beauty is a disinterested form of purpose in itself through the free play of the imagination. Throughout his journal, Gide brings up Communism and Christianity often and seems to vacillate between a fascination and a rejection of their principles. He also is interested by the idea of objectification, which relates directly to the human need for rationalization and purpose. Whenever we interpret a work of art, we try to come up with a hidden structure or meaning it represents, no matter how abstract it is. And I believe that speaks to art's inherent purpose as a means of communication, but we can also contemplate it in silence and enjoy it sensorially. I invite all readers today to contemplate what honesty means to them and whether only purely aesthetic feelings are honest.
"I doubt the honesty of a feeling as soon as it can be useful to me. I must meditate on this need for self-mortification." - André Gide
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