Architecture

Art and architecture share many similarities. They've influenced one another throughout history. However, trying to liken these two disciplines will inevitably lead to certain contractions.

Perhaps the biggest difference is that Art, in its broadest sense, is defined as a creation meant to trigger an emotional response which is generally related to aesthetic pleasure. It doesn't satisfy any of life's basic needs, but it leads to thoughts, reflections, and often taps into our subconscious and our memory. On the other hand, architecture's primary purpose is to shelter individuals and ensure their safety. Architecture is meant to serve a utilitarian purpose.

Today, architecture has gone far beyond this initial function. Architects have strived to combine engineering and aesthetic research to create buildings that are so out of the ordinary we wonder how they were designed. They want their creations to stand out and favour originality and creativity. Just like in arts, architecture is influenced by the historical, social, and political context of the time and each movement has its own characteristics, from baroque to futurism to Bauhaus. Modern architecture marked a turn in the history of architecture. Architects revolutionised the social scope of their discipline and took an industrialist approach to society and nature — avant-garde architects rubbed shoulders with artists such as Georges Braque, Piet Mondrian, and members of the De Stijl group. Le Corbusier is a pioneer in collective housing, and also took part in ambitious projects which aimed to rebuild entire cities, such as Chandigarh in India. Decorative arts also developed by taking inspiration from the conventions that governed modernist architecture.

Contemporary architecture might not be a specific movement per se, but buildings that fall into this category share certain attributes. Contemporary architecture is characterised by curvy lines and various volumes in a single structure, as seen with the Sydney Opera House. The architect Jørn Utzon explained that he didn't seek to create a building for this project, but an actual sculpture. The building continually renews itself with new meanings and experiences for each passerby. Architectural works often require periods of deep reflection and a long though process in order for the architect to envisage how to give their building a sense of character and soul.

Whether architecture is an art or not is a never ending debate, but it is undeniable that there are strong links between the two disciplines. There are many examples of collaborations between contemporary artists and architects, and today the works of the greatest architects are exhibited in museums along with their fellow artists.

Discover our selections of artworks inspired by art and architecture!

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Painting, Vindicator, Richard Szkutnik

Richard Szkutnik

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 0.2 inch

CHF 624

Painting, Gates, Richard Szkutnik

Richard Szkutnik

Painting . 30.5 x 30.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 0.2 inch

CHF 579

Painting, The Barn, Richard Szkutnik

Richard Szkutnik

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 0.5 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 0.2 inch

CHF 713

Painting, Chicago #7, John Ferry

John Ferry

Painting . 53.34 x 16.51 x 0.1 cm Painting . 21 x 6.5 x 0 inch

CHF 2,248

Fine Art Drawings, Evolución, Reyner

Reyner

Fine Art Drawings . 29 x 19 x 0.03 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.4 x 7.5 x 0 inch

CHF 681

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 66, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Fine Art Drawings . 24 x 33 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.4 x 13 x 0 inch

CHF 97

Painting, Croatia III, Sona Adalyan

Sona Adalyan

Painting . 23 x 17 x 2 cm Painting . 9.1 x 6.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 214

Print, Pont vieux, Sophie Griotto

Sophie Griotto

Print . 100 x 85 x 3 cm Print . 39.4 x 33.5 x 1.2 inch

CHF 573

Print, LE REFUGE, Sophie Griotto

Sophie Griotto

Print . 90 x 90 x 3 cm Print . 35.4 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch

CHF 573

Photography, Family Planning, Arthur Steel

Arthur Steel

Photography . 48 x 61 x 1 cm Photography . 18.9 x 24 x 0.4 inch

CHF 1,776

Photography, Flooding III, Romain Liverato

Romain Liverato

Photography . 90 x 60 x 1 cm Photography . 35.4 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

CHF 778

Painting, Khu Van Hoa. Hanoi, Loi Duc

Loi Duc

Painting . 80 x 200 x 1 cm Painting . 31.5 x 78.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 8,514

Fine Art Drawings, La rosace, Georges Laporte

Georges Laporte

Fine Art Drawings . 34 x 24 cm Fine Art Drawings . 13.4 x 9.4 inch

CHF 195

Painting, The rise, Amogh Katyayan

Amogh Katyayan

Painting . 101.6 x 76.2 x 3.8 cm Painting . 40 x 30 x 1.5 inch

CHF 802

Photography, NL #123, Charles Weber

Charles Weber

Photography . 70 x 70 cm Photography . 27.6 x 27.6 inch

CHF 2,530

Photography, Shakespeare, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 584

Photography, Cheminées, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 45 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

CHF 584

Photography, 2141, Jean-Paul Baret

Jean-Paul Baret

Photography . 50 x 60 cm Photography . 19.7 x 23.6 inch

CHF 311

Photography, Mairie, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 30 x 40 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 487

Photography, Halles Boulingrin, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 30 x 45 x 1 cm Photography . 11.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 487

Photography, Field, Eduardo Rezende

Eduardo Rezende

Photography . 149.9 x 99.8 x 0.3 cm Photography . 59 x 39.3 x 0.1 inch

CHF 5,794

Fine Art Drawings, Hôtel particulier, Zo

Zo

Fine Art Drawings . 80 x 60 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

CHF 769

Photography, Florida - SMALL, Paul Fuentes

Paul Fuentes

Photography . 70 x 55 x 0.01 cm Photography . 27.6 x 21.7 x 0 inch

CHF 584

Painting, In Rome, Alexander Litvinov

Alexander Litvinov

Painting . 50 x 68 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 26.8 x 0.8 inch

CHF 433

Painting, Pegasus, Alexander Litvinov

Alexander Litvinov

Painting . 43 x 64 x 2 cm Painting . 16.9 x 25.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 399

Fine Art Drawings, Sans-titre, Jean Revol

Jean Revol

Fine Art Drawings . 48 x 60.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18.9 x 23.8 x 0 inch

CHF 389

Fine Art Drawings, Paris Rue Rameau, Francine Ledieu

Francine Ledieu

Fine Art Drawings . 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 3,698

Painting, System angels, Ed Potapenkov

Ed Potapenkov

Painting . 150 x 150 x 2 cm Painting . 59.1 x 59.1 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,892

Painting, Passage, Ed Potapenkov

Ed Potapenkov

Painting . 163 x 147 x 2 cm Painting . 64.2 x 57.9 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,892

Painting, Open, Ed Potapenkov

Ed Potapenkov

Painting . 150 x 160 x 2 cm Painting . 59.1 x 63 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,892

Painting, Guards, Ed Potapenkov

Ed Potapenkov

Painting . 150 x 150 x 2 cm Painting . 59.1 x 59.1 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,892

Painting, Homestead, Victor Roschkov

Victor Roschkov

Painting . 39.4 x 63.5 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.5 x 25 x 0.1 inch

CHF 538

Painting, Mirror Image, Victor Roschkov

Victor Roschkov

Painting . 65.5 x 41.4 x 0.3 cm Painting . 25.8 x 16.3 x 0.1 inch

CHF 538

Painting, Horizon B3, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

CHF 156

Fine Art Drawings, Chicago, Josep Maria Mejan

Josep Maria Mejan

Fine Art Drawings . 23 x 16.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 9.1 x 6.5 x 0 inch

CHF 632

Photography, Londres II, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 45 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

CHF 487

Photography, Londres I, Feng Hatat

Feng Hatat

Photography . 45 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

CHF 584