The concept of a muse, someone who inspires an artist’s work, has been present throughout history. The term originates from Greek mythology, where the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne were considered muses. Pablo Picasso is an example of an artist who incorporated his muses into his work, often moving on to a new woman when inspiration dissipated. The muse can also be seen as a spiritual force, with some musicians calling upon the spirit world for inspiration. The world of the arts is indebted to its muses, whether they are human or spiritual.
Many artists, writers, poets and musicians have claimed that their creative work was inspired by an individual they refer to as their muse. A muse is someone who has such an influence on another that she becomes the focus and inspiration for that person’s creative work. The term has historically been used by men to describe women they have been in love with and have made the subject of their work.
The word muse comes from Greek mythology. The Greek gods Zeus and Mnemosyne had nine daughters named Muses. The nine daughters were one in heart, spirit and thought. If the muses loved a man, the man’s worries instantly disappeared. The man loved by the muses was considered holier than a saint.
Throughout the history of art, men and women have been inspired by their muses. Think of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, two people who inspired each other and became the subject of much of each other’s work. One world-famous artist who incorporated his muses into his work was the painter Pablo Picasso. Throughout his life, each of the women he has met and loved has become his subject of him.
Picasso had affairs with many women, many of which ended in heartbreaking circumstances for women. Picasso’s work can be seen progressing with every woman he has been in a relationship with. From the first flush of romance to the deterioration of the relationship, all stages can be seen in his art. Picasso’s women were his inspiration, and he is sometimes judged harshly for discarding the women in his life when the inspiration dissipated and his work began to suffer. Picasso would move on to a new woman and his inspiration and art would be reinvigorated.
The muse is not always a human being. Just as the idea of the muse originated in a spiritual world, so too many musicians see their muse as coming from a different dimension. Musician Jim Morrison of the rock band The Doors has claimed to call upon the spirit world to inspire his music. Many people see the muse as a dark supernatural force that possesses the artist and helps create his or her work. This is why some people mistakenly call some forms of music the work of the devil.
Whether the muse is spiritual or a flesh-and-blood person, it’s true that the world of the arts is indebted to its muses. Without these inspiring people who loved and encouraged the artist, a wealth of paintings and music would be missing from the world.
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