“Art is a selective re-creation of reality according to an artist’s metaphysical value-judgments. Man’s profound need of art lies in the fact that his cognitive faculty is conceptual, i.e., that he acquires knowledge by means of abstractions, and needs the power to bring his widest metaphysical abstractions into his immediate, perceptual awareness. Art fulfills this need: by means of a selective re-creation, it concretizes man’s fundamental view of himself and of existence. It tells man, in effect, which aspects of his experience are to be regarded as essential, significant, important. In this sense, art teaches man how to use his consciousness. It conditions or stylizes man’s consciousness by conveying to him a certain way of looking at existence.”
– AYN RAND “Art and Cognition”
The Romantic Manifesto
Books & Essays on Art & Esthetics
The Romantic Manifesto by Ayn Rand (1969)
“Art is a selective re-creation of reality based on the artist’s metaphysical value-judgments”
Metaphysics in Marble by Mary Ann Sures
This article was originally published in The Objectivist (February and March 1969) and is recommended by Ayn Rand in The Romantic Manifesto.
CliffsNotes for Atlas Shrugged
By Philosopher Andy Bernstein is now available online for free.
Literature
Paper Tiger Books
The Paper Tiger publishes books by or about – or of interest to fans of – Ayn Rand, Nevil Shute, Victor Hugo, and Frank Spearman.
Read with Me
Lisa VanDamme’s book reading club that will inspire you to read the classics.
Cinema
Scott Holleran
Lots of movie reviews. Scott’s writing, editing, and journalism include articles for the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and many others.
Sculpture & Painting
Sandra Shaw Sculpture
Sculptor and art instructor and speaker on art & art history.
On The Easel
Art commentary, thoughts, and miscellany by Bryan Larsen, master painter.
Quent Cordair Gallery
Since 1996, QCG has been the premier provider of contemporary Romantic Realism in painting, sculpture, and drawing.
Art Appreciation
Touching the Art
Luc Travers
Forgotten Delights
Durante’s succinct book Innovators in Sculpture: 5,000 Years in Two Exhilarating Hours is particularly good.
Philosophy: I Need It
Yonatan Daon is an Objectivist who explores the history and philosophy of art.
Cartoons
Bosch Fawstin
Eisner nominated cartoonist and author of The Infidel.
Cox & Forkum
Cox & Forkum is John Cox and Allen Forkum. The site features political and social commentary cartoons, primarily from an Objectivist perspective.