The role of art and the artist: Schopenhauer, Wagner, Nietzsche y Freud

Vienna’s cultural atmosphere in the late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed a clear development of romantic aesthetic theories, influenced by concepts such as Richard Wagner’s “Gesamtkunstwerk” (1813-1883). This term, which Wagner defined as the “complete work of art”, defended the idea that artwork should be a redemptive instrument of life. Nonetheless, Wagner applied it primarily to opera, and not to the fine arts. For his part, Schopenhauer (1788-1860) shared Wagner’s vision, but added a crucial concept: the figure of a genius, understood as the only person capable of perceiving and reflecting the aesthetic view of the world. Nietzsche (1844-1900), was even more radical, and took this thinking further, recognizing the genius/artist as a hero and guide for humanity.

In a different field, Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) revolutionized the understanding of the mind and human behavior. In his work The Interpretation of Dreams (1899), Freud maintained that dreams are manifestations of the irrational and the subconscious, reflecting our struggles, desires and longings. In his later studies, he developed the theory that humanity is driven by two fundamental forces: Eros (love) and Thanatos (the fear of death).