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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Fine Art Drawings, Les inséparables, Elips

Les inséparables

Elips

Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 42 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

$543

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Robert Delval

Untitled

Robert Delval

Fine Art Drawings - 50.8 x 40.6 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 20 x 16 x 1 inch

$125

Photography, Abandon, Maximilien Diaz

Abandon

Maximilien Diaz

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

$925

Sculpture, Sweet Dream, Dillon Dem

Sweet Dream

Dillon Dem

Sculpture - 180 x 60 x 10 cm Sculpture - 70.9 x 23.6 x 3.9 inch

$6,357

Painting, White, Sophie Dumont

White

Sophie Dumont

Painting - 60 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$3,352

Painting, shelters, Poonam Choudhary

shelters

Poonam Choudhary

Painting - 121.9 x 152.4 x 5.1 cm Painting - 48 x 60 x 2 inch

$1,850 $1,665

Painting, Saint Tropez, Fred Boutet

Saint Tropez

Fred Boutet

Painting - 40 x 120 x 4 cm Painting - 15.7 x 47.2 x 1.6 inch

$867

Sculpture, Surge II, Philip Hearsey

Surge II

Philip Hearsey

Sculpture - 25 x 43 x 18 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 16.9 x 7.1 inch

$4,699

Print, Relic, Vhils

Relic

Vhils

Print - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$2,185

Painting, Village I, Xiu

Village I

Xiu

Painting - 40 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

$694

Painting, Coliseum, Nadin Antoniuk

Coliseum

Nadin Antoniuk

Painting - 70 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

$1,734

Painting, Sunny Moments, Vianney

Sunny Moments

Vianney

Painting - 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$3,468

Painting, Evening walk, Galya Popova

Evening walk

Galya Popova

Painting - 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,907

Fine Art Drawings, Palermo_5, Galya Popova

Palermo_5

Galya Popova

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 70 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0 inch

$2,081

Print, Le pont, Louis Toffoli

Le pont

Louis Toffoli

Print - 76 x 56 x 0.3 cm Print - 29.9 x 22 x 0.1 inch

$578

Painting, Blue, Aurélie Trabaud

Blue

Aurélie Trabaud

Painting - 61 x 46 x 1 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 x 0.4 inch

$809

Painting, Canicule, Sylvie Eudes

Canicule

Sylvie Eudes

Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

$2,774

Painting, Shadow, Galya Popova

Shadow

Galya Popova

Painting - 70 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

$2,659

Photography, Morning Sun, Rodrigo

Morning Sun

Rodrigo

Photography - 27.1 x 19.4 x 0.1 cm Photography - 10.7 x 7.6 x 0 inch

$2,311

Painting, A travel, Galya Popova

A travel

Galya Popova

Painting - 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,618

9/100