Alain de Botton's video on seven artworks that soothe the soul
Philosopher Alain de Botton, through his platform The School of Life, released a video exploring art as a tool for consolation. He selected seven artworks with calming power: Hiroshi Sugimoto's ocean photographs, Ansel Adams' images on death acceptance, stormy paintings by Ludolf Backhuysen and Caspar David Friedrich on resilience, Claude Monet's bucolic landscapes as 'hope in a bottle', Japanese Kintsugi art as metaphor for turning problems into opportunities, and a minimalist sculpture by Richard Serra dedicated to poet Fernando Pessoa. The video argues that art, alongside philosophy and religion, is a primary source of comfort for humanity.
Key facts
- Alain de Botton created a video on art as consolation
- The School of Life produced the video
- Seven artworks were selected for their calming power
- Hiroshi Sugimoto's ocean photographs are included
- Ansel Adams' works focus on acceptance of death
- Ludolf Backhuysen and Caspar David Friedrich paintings address resilience
- Claude Monet's landscapes are described as 'hope in a bottle'
- Japanese Kintsugi art symbolizes turning problems into opportunities
- Richard Serra's sculpture is dedicated to Fernando Pessoa
Entities
Artists
- Alain de Botton
- Hiroshi Sugimoto
- Ansel Adams
- Ludolf Backhuysen
- Caspar David Friedrich
- Claude Monet
- Richard Serra
- Fernando Pessoa
Institutions
- The School of Life
- Artribune
Locations
- United Kingdom
- Japan
- Portugal
- Germany
- Netherlands
- France