[Renderofveils]

It’s just plain UGLY. It’s a dark, sad, disturbing piece. I could not call this art

All art should be joyous, uplifting and beautiful? Some of my favorite pieces of art are the ones that make me think... and some of them are quite dark (in tone, if not palette.) Caspar Friedrich's The Sea of Ice (or Death of Hope as it is sometimes referred) is an immensely sad, dark and disturbing piece, so is it not art?

[Renderofveils]

Er, The Wreck of Hope. I figured I'd correct myself before someone else did. ;)

[newheart]

I could not agree with you more. ‘Dark’ art, even that which attempts to express the hopelessness of the human condition, can be profound, providing a contrast that illuminates the genuine hope that exists. Even when it is not the intent of the artist.

Every picture has its shadows, and it has some source of light. (Joni Mitchell)

[ApplegateRanch]

Some of my favorite pieces of art are the ones that make me think... and some of them are quite dark

Caryatids...the convention

Fallen Caryatid, a statement about rethinking the convention...

...or maybe what happens if one tries to shrug at the wrong time.