Art is exalted above religion and race. Not a single solitary

"Art is exalted above religion and race. Not a single solitary soul these days believes in the religions of the Assyrians, the Egyptians and the Greeks... Only their art, whenever it was beautiful, stands proud and exalted, rising above all time." These words of Emil Nolde are a reflection on the enduring power of art — a force that transcends the limitations of time, culture, and religion. Nolde’s statement speaks to the immortality of art, suggesting that while the beliefs of ancient peoples — the Assyrians, the Egyptians, and the Greeks — have faded from practice, their art remains a testament to their greatness. Art, he argues, is not bound by the confines of historical or religious identity, but instead rises above these barriers, becoming a universal language that speaks to the soul across ages.

The origin of this insight is rooted in the ancient understanding of beauty and creation. The Greeks themselves, who gave us some of the most revered works of art, philosophy, and architecture, believed that art was a reflection of the divine. Plato argued that beauty, found in art, was a reflection of the eternal Forms, the ideal and unchanging truths that transcended the material world. For Plato, art was a way of bringing the divine into the human realm, capturing something eternal and unchanging in works that, though of this world, hinted at the eternal. Nolde’s words echo this notion: that art has the power to outlast not only the civilizations that created it but the very religions that once sought to explain the mysteries of life.

Consider the parthenon, that sacred and majestic structure of ancient Greece, which stands today as a symbol of the Greeks' reverence for the divine. Though the Greek gods and religions have been forgotten by many, the art of the Parthenon, through its grandeur and grace, still speaks to us across millennia. It is not simply the temple’s religious significance that endures, but the beauty and the artistry of its construction — its harmony, proportion, and devotion to truth. Art remains, as Nolde suggests, a timeless bridge to the soul, a testament to the spirit of a people long gone, long after their beliefs have faded.

Another striking example lies in the ancient Egyptian tombs, whose walls are decorated with intricate and powerful images that convey the spiritual journey of the soul. Today, few of us practice the religion of the Pharaohs, but the art they left behind continues to stir us, speaking of their understanding of life and death, beauty and truth. The art in these tombs, whether in the form of statues, paintings, or carvings, has survived as the essence of Egyptian culture, long after their religions and ways of life have faded. The Egyptians, like the Greeks, understood that art could serve as a bridge to something greater than themselves, something eternal.

Consider also the renaissance, when artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael sought to capture the divine not through the dogmas of religion, but through the brushstrokes and marble of their creations. The Sistine Chapel, with its powerful depictions of biblical scenes, is not just a religious symbol — it is a masterpiece of human creativity and an expression of the divine beauty that transcends religion. These works continue to inspire not because they are attached to a particular faith, but because they capture the universal beauty of human existence and the divine.

Nolde’s assertion is not merely a reflection on the superiority of art, but a call to recognize its power to transcend the boundaries of time and culture. Art, in its truest form, speaks to something deeper within us — the part of the human soul that yearns for beauty, for meaning, and for a connection to something greater than ourselves. While religion may offer a framework for understanding the world, it is art that gives us a glimpse of the divine. As Kant said, “Beauty is the symbol of the divine.” Nolde echoes this idea, suggesting that art is a bridge not just to past civilizations, but to something timeless and eternal.

The lesson here is clear: seek out beauty in the world, for it is art that connects us to the divine, to the eternal truths that surpass the limitations of any single culture, religion, or time period. Do not be confined by the boundaries of belief or the fleeting nature of political or religious systems. Let art be your guide, for it speaks to something universal within us all — the longing for truth, beauty, and meaning. In a world often divided by differences in faith and culture, art remains a unifying force, a testament to our shared humanity and our collective desire to reach beyond the finite and touch the infinite.

To act on this wisdom, immerse yourself in the art that surrounds you, whether in the form of paintings, music, literature, or sculpture. Let these creations inspire you to see the divine in everyday life. Recognize that the greatest truths are often hidden in the beauty of the world — in the works of those who have come before us and in the creative expression of those who walk beside us. Let the art you encounter elevate your spirit and remind you of the eternal truths that rise above all time.