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, A Skyscraper, Alla Kechedzhan

Alla Kechedzhan

Fine Art Drawings . 20 x 30 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€2,900

Painting, Morning Star, Clara Duch

Clara Duch

Painting . 73 x 92 x 2.5 cm Painting . 28.7 x 36.2 x 1 inch

€2,800

Painting, Feeding Chickens, Lexi Caiqin

Lexi Caiqin

Painting . 80 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 31.5 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€9,500

Painting, El Palau BCN, M. Muro

M. Muro

Painting . 60 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€2,600

Painting, Les barques rouges, Autonne

Autonne

Painting . 122 x 76 x 4 cm Painting . 48 x 29.9 x 1.6 inch

€4,800

Painting, North in summer, Luong Trung

Luong Trung

Painting . 100 x 120 x 2 cm Painting . 39.4 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

€5,750

Painting, Haut perché, Plok

Plok

Painting . 80 x 80 x 5 cm Painting . 31.5 x 31.5 x 2 inch

€3,200

Painting, Morning chime, Dmitry Artim

Dmitry Artim

Painting . 70 x 60 x 2 cm Painting . 27.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

€550

Painting, The city, Clara Duch

Clara Duch

Painting . 80 x 80 x 2.5 cm Painting . 31.5 x 31.5 x 1 inch

€2,500

Painting, Blue wind, Alexander Dobrodiy

Alexander Dobrodiy

Painting . 60 x 80 x 2 cm Painting . 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

€1,680

Painting, Italian town, Elena Sokolova

Elena Sokolova

Painting . 39.9 x 50 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€389

Painting, Marbella, AVEL Muñoz

AVEL Muñoz

Painting . 36 x 28 x 3 cm Painting . 14.2 x 11 x 1.2 inch

€800

Painting, Cracow, Janusz Szpyt

Janusz Szpyt

Painting . 36 x 18 cm Painting . 14.2 x 7.1 inch

€900

Painting, Village, Daozhou Huang

Daozhou Huang

Painting . 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€450

Painting, Reflets, Corine Lescop

Corine Lescop

Painting . 100 x 100 cm Painting . 39.4 x 39.4 inch

€3,900

Painting, Santorini, Lusie Schellenberg

Lusie Schellenberg

Painting . 60 x 60 x 1 cm Painting . 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

€1,600

Painting, Drying Rice II, Lexi Caiqin

Lexi Caiqin

Painting . 80 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 31.5 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€9,500

Painting, Drying Rice, Lexi Caiqin

Lexi Caiqin

Painting . 80 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 31.5 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€9,500

Painting, Village, Sarkis Hamalbashian

Sarkis Hamalbashian

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

€3,300

Painting, Jardí, Àlex Prunés

Àlex Prunés

Painting . 50 x 61 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 24 x 1.2 inch

€1,700

Painting, Venise, Jacques Gorde

Jacques Gorde

Painting . 110 x 160 x 2 cm Painting . 43.3 x 63 x 0.8 inch

€7,500

Painting, Sunny street, Helen Shukina

Helen Shukina

Painting . 35 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€357

Painting, P. laberinto BCN, M. Muro

M. Muro

Painting . 60 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€2,600

Painting, Brant Point, David Sipko

David Sipko

Painting . 27.9 x 35.6 x 2 cm Painting . 11 x 14 x 0.8 inch

€758