By: Louis Barnes
Introduction:
In the Spring of 2019, I found myself in Paris, France, watching as flames began to engulf one of the most renowned buildings to ever exist, the Notre Dame Cathedral. Although I had never felt any particular connection with this building, it was deeply disturbing to witness. Fires happen every day all over the world, but very few have worldwide significance. Something was different about this fire. I was not merely watching a building burn, but history, beauty, and legacy. Intricate stained-glass windows, innovative flying buttresses, symbolic craftsmanship, and immovable artistic brilliance compel people to cross oceans to see this cathedral in person. It is meant to point us to the majesty of God, and it has steadfastly stood there doing just that through centuries of turmoil, revolution, wars, fires, decay, and death. The great men who began construction wouldn’t even live to see its completion. After the 2019 fire, it had to be restored. It is a gothic work that transcends generations, too precious to be lost or replaced. That is the power of craftsmanship and art.
Inspiration from Past Men of Greatness:
Many stigmas exist in our modern times that prevent men from pursuing craftsmanship, art, and beauty. We live in a time when setting out to build something so grand and so beautiful would cut against the grain. Things are disposable, short-lived, and measurable on depreciation tables. Other mediums of art, such as painting, poetry, and some forms of music, are seen as effeminate. We see it as a contradiction to excel on the football field while also having a knack for prose or watercolor. But great men throughout history have been able to touch our generation through these means. King David was a mighty warrior who slew armies and a lion with his bare hands, but was a tender poet and musician. We read his Psalms and remember God. We sing John Newton’s, Amazing Grace, and we feel the anguish of his sins melt away in the Lord’s mercy. We read great novels, such as Crime and Punishment, and we understand redemption. We hear Bach’s concertos and are brought out of the mundane. An aged limestone home brings nostalgia for simpler times past. The painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware inspires boldness and courage. A stained glass window in an old Texas church reminds us of God’s creativity. All of these inspirations and messages are bequeathed to us through the artists who came before us, and they were not feminine. Rather, we can learn from their masculine artistry.
If a man neglects his creative power, he misses out on building a legacy, shaping his culture, and the fulfillment that comes with participating in something greater than himself. But he also misses out on the simple joys of getting lost in a project, appreciating a sculpture, reading poetry by the fire, or painting a beautiful landscape. Art gives us high callings and provides us with simple pleasures and rest from consumerism, notifications, and social media. As the fellow said, “art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Men need art, and art needs men.
Art Makes You Effective:
The traditional gentleman was expected to develop artistic talents. To be an effective man, he must understand art and be able to wield it. At its essence, art is communication wrapped up in beauty. Paintings communicate the heart and soul of the artist. A building’s design communicates something about its culture. This cuts both ways, as some messages are not inspiring. Sadly, much of art communicates nihilism. But when something is beautiful, it lasts. Not only can we reach our community with beauty, but we can reach into the future. Notre Dame was built nearly a millennium ago, and it is still impacting the people who visit. Songs, poems, novels, plays, buildings, cities, paintings, and statues have built-in messages from our ancestors to encourage, inspire, warn, teach, edify, and entertain us. Art is time travel. We can have a hand in building, preserving, and reforming not only our current culture, but also the future.
Art as Leisure:
It was also understood in former eras that pursuing art was restful and rejuvenating. Winston Churchill took up painting, which I believe helped him develop into the effective man who would go on to help save Western Civilization. I would suspect most consequential figures had a creative pursuit to keep them sane. Art has a way of capturing a man and expanding his mind. It puts things into perspective, makes you realize the world is a beautiful place, and recharges you to get back to your own pursuits. I have a demanding schedule with deadlines, pressure from clients, and responsibilities as a husband and father. After a long day, getting lost in a book helps me unwind. I get completely ensconced in another world. Personally, I prefer old books with witty dialogue. These old stories suck me into another era, often in a foreign land, with unfamiliar circumstances. And yet I feel completely connected to the characters. I live in another world for a short time. Then, I come back to my reality and have a renewed perspective on it. My mind is calm after not letting an algorithm whip me from one topic to another, but rather focusing on a singular narrative, often one full of truth (if you read the right books). So whether you are building a table, reading old poetry, welding, or taking up pottery, enjoying good art or creating art can both be relaxing alternatives to scrolling a feed or passively watching a sitcom.
Call to Action:
Much of the art in our modern day speaks to purposelessness. Shallow messages, lack of virtue, or sterile design all reinforce this. When great men are cast out of the arts, greatness is not communicated and passed down. With young men especially lacking purpose, it is a shame that our culture often discourages them from taking up creative pursuits. But it is creation, broadly speaking, that men are called to. We are meant to build, and this includes art. We have a Creator who is artistic. He created lightning, coffee beans, the human eye, coral reefs, volcanoes, hammerhead sharks, and a few other things. And therefore, we emulate Him when we use our creativity. It is divine, but also such a human activity that makes us more whole. Some men can build beautiful cabinetry, others can write, and some are gifted stone masons. Whatever your creation, go the extra mile. Put some thought into the details that may not even get noticed at first glance. Give it some specificity and personality. Take risks. When putting in new kitchen cabinets, add some texture to the outside. When writing a thank-you note, craft your words artfully so the recipient never wants to throw it away. If everything you touch is artistic, you are sending a message: “Life has purpose. I care.” People will start to notice the effort. “Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men” (Proverbs 22:29, ESV). And perhaps one day, if something you passed down catches fire, your progeny will get right back to work rebuilding.
More from the BetterMENt column: For another argument that the inner life of men is not optional, read Why I Read. For the disposition that art and reading both demand, read The Relentless Pursuit of Understanding.
