Eco-Aesthetics in Contemporary Western Landscapes: A Study of Nature and Art

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Abstract

Mountains and water are fundamental landscapes with abundant artistic appeal in nature. A large part of the elements of landscape representation consists of natural scenes that evoke a sense of grandeur and awe in the artist. Mountains, land, water, and sky are considered natural elements that have engaged the minds of Western artists for centuries. The way these natural elements are represented has been part of the mental challenge for every artist. The representation of this magnificent nature can be seen as a kind of aesthetic competition. It seems that the artist recreates nature in an artificial form and frame of handmade creation. In fact, Western landscape paintings depict natural sceneries and landscapes of the Western world. These paintings showcase the beauty and grandeur of open spaces, focusing on unique features such as mountains, forests, and vast skies. Landscape painting has a long history dating back to the 15th century and remains popular among artists and collectors. The aim of the present research is to recognize the ecological elements in contemporary Western nature painting. Accordingly, using a descriptive-analytical method, an effort has been made to study the ways of recreating environmental elements in the works of five Western landscape painters (Mark Lombardi, Jill O'Bryan, Robin O'Neil, El Daniel, and Sarah K. Smith). The research findings indicate that, unlike the landscape paintings of the 18th and 19th centuries in the West, contemporary Western landscape painting has taken an entirely different path. Unlike previous landscape paintings, which attempted to represent nature through a subjective approach, contemporary Western painters strive to transform their artworks into a platform for the recreation of nature. Furthermore, artists in this period view ecological concerns as a vital matter rather than an artistic pastime due to the adverse consequences of industrialization on nature.