Art Needs No Justification

by Hans R. Rookmaaker

One of the 20th century's most incisive art historians and cultural critics issues a prophetic call to artists-craftsmen, musicians, visual artists, and others in all walks of life to "weep, pray, think, and work."

Genres: Art, Christian, Nonfiction, Theology, Philosophy, Christianity, Cultural

63 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Associate of Francis A. Schaeffer.

Reviews

[Abby Emilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Yet the meaning of work done well is in the joy to have been able to make something that was of some use to somebody, and in that way adding positively to the flow of history in the direction of the kingdom of God."

This little book was both insightful for a student of art history and inspiring for an amateur artist--I'm motivated afresh to create, not out of desire for fame or because I can find a way to put it on my resume, but because art is worth doing for its own sake and honours the Lord.

(Pay no attention to the fact that I'm finishing half an hour before class.)

[Mark Gring · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little text, written before Rookmaaker's unfortunate (for us) early passing, is one I wish I could have found and read in the late 1970s. This text, although written for the layperson and the working artist, is a wonderful template for understanding Christian vocation (calling) for all areas. His easy to remember formula: weep, pray, think, and work, is the key for reformation of all areas of vocation. Rookmaaker, even in this text, makes Dooyeweerd's philosophical ideas very accessible and adds the greater depth, even in this short volume, that is missing from Francis Schaeffer's wonderful overview, How Should We Then Live.
Get this text! Read it! Read it several times! Then make sure your fellow believers read this. The text is inspiring, encouraging, and challenging. It is only based on these kinds of ideas--weeping for our own sinfulness and the sinfulness of our vocational area of calling; praying for God to renew/reform us; thinking about how the culture has affected us and how we can challenge the ungodliness of the culture through our own work, and then to work...do the difficult work of our vocational calling to the glory of God and our personal best! This is the way of meekness, of the suffering of the cross (Luther), and of true transformation for ourselves and for our culture.
Get this book! Read it! Meditate on it! And then start weeping, praying, thinking, and working!

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

There seems to be a lot of confusion about art and its purpose in general.

There are many Christian artists out there who are unsure about their place as artists within Gods design. There are people who seem to think that art is either unnecessary or worse–carnal. Or they think it should be used exclusively for evangelistic purposes. If you're one of them, this book is for you. It deals with art's role and meaning in this world–both in secular world and within God's design.

I expected to find something that would challenge my current position on the subject but found nothing. I want to give this book 4 1/2 stars because it's not as cohesive and a little jumbled up at times and so I found myself re-reading some paragraphs. Otherwise I definitely recommend it.

[Myllena Melo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Direto ao ponto e extremamente instrutivo por nos relembrar que vivemos diante de Deus em todos as esferas da nossa realidade, o que incluí, a arte.

[John Rimmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great companion to "Art and the Bible" by Schaeffer, coming to the discussion from different, but complimentary avenues.

The emphasis on love as the motive for making is profound.

The call to "weep, pray, think, and work" is also a great charge, with emphasis on the proper ordering of these calls. Cultural changes must begin with cultural repentance, and those best able to begin such a move are those already gifted with the conviction for a return to God's beauty. Thus the artist is to begin the work of repentance for the culture, not stand outside it casting sidelong glances with one's arms folded, waiting in vain for the world to get its act together.

I also picked up on and appreciated his emphasis on the covenantal nature of culture as opposed to the common notion of a detached individualism. This undesirable fruit of pietism, that of breaking human experience and endeavors into their neat, tidy, detached categories that pretend to be unrelated or unaffected by what is going on in the others, is lunacy. The blessings and curses fall on all fields of human endeavor together, thus faith, virtue, and love are fundamentally important to all human arenas, particularly the arts. Human flourishing, in anything, stands or falls on humanity's relationship to God.

[lacy sachsenmaier]

i’m not familiar with the academic art world of the seventies, but many of rookmaaker’s ideas feel ahead of his time - ahead even of our own. he acknowledges the validity and unashamed need for quality art in Christian culture. he calls out the low artistic standards Christians too often adhere to and challenges our perception of ‘Christian’ art. i can’t agree with all of rookmaaker’s opinions and the beginning was rather heady, but it was worth the read.

(in arguing for the validity and need of the Christian artist):
Indeed, what we cannot afford to be without needs no justification.

[Thomas Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big fan. Currently the best and most efficient book explaining art from a Christian worldview (that I’ve read so far). Definitely a book I will read repeatedly.

[Samuel G. Parkison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little pamphlet on how Christians should approach the topic of "art." The title can be deceiving, because if one didn't know any better, one might assume that Rookmaaker is here taking his place in the choir of modern artists who smack on about "art for art's sake" and who consider *personal expression* to be the cardinal virtue for all artwork. Rookmaaker is not a part of the elite "high art" culture which worships art (to art's own demise) like the title might suggest (in fact, Rookmaaker criticizes the "high art culture" or "the institution of high art," as Wolterstorff would put it). The title, "Art Needs No Justification," should rather be taken as an attack on much of the Church's utilitarian perspective on art--art doesn't need to be a means to some other temporal end for it to be justifiable. Art's justification, for Rookmaaker, is its "giveness"--the fact that God ordained for art's possibility in creation (and, one might argue, art's commissioning in creation and all throughout covenantal history) is reason enough for art to exist; it doesn't need to serve the task of evangelism, for example, for it to be a legitimate endeavor (although, it can and does serve this task often; Rookmaaker's point is that even when it doesn't, it can be taken as an expression of love for God in and of itself--and that is the given presupposed justification that this little book takes for granted).

So if we were really being cheeky, we would want to rename the book, "Art Needs No Justification Beyond the Justification of Anything Else Created and Ordained By God"

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's an irony in books titled "X needs no justification" that then proceed to justify X. But Rookmaaker's point is that Art has not always been in the hands of the elite geniuses. In fact, it wasn't until the 18th century that arts and crafts became distinguishable. (Jerram Barrs mentions 4 consequences of separating "arts" and "crafts" in Echoes of Eden, pp. 34-36.) Art is an expression of creativity, and as a means of exercising mastery over God's creation, it needs no more justification than medical work.

I've posted the introduction here.

Other notes:
7: artists used to be craftsmen
8: Bernard of Clairvaux (also p. 19)
9: Descartes; Baumgarten
10: art history; Kant, Hegel
11: a-Christian neutrality
15: C.S. Lewis's Abolition of Man

17: shift; pietism elevated at the expense of philosophy, science, etc.
24: God is over souls and scholarship

31: the aim of life is not evangelism; art is rarely propaganda (cf. Orwell's All Art Is Propaganda; also p. 39)
32: Christianity is not an add-on
33: being a Christian artist

44: four-fold method of interpretation
46-50: music
57: talent, intelligence, character, application
60: "so-called spontaneous achievement" (sprezzatura) of Hokusai

[Alex Strohschein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small book with a lot of excellent insight into art, specifically how Christians should approach and produce art. Hans Rookmaaker briefly analyzes how art changed during the Enlightenment, criticizing pietism for privileging inward holiness while ignoring material culture and aesthetics. Rookmaaker explains how art involves both form and communication. He points out that something can have a good meaning while being poorly produced. As I neared the end of the book I still had a major qualm to pick with the author; he praises Isaac Watts for composing hymns that were popular for the masses but Rookmaaker himself tends to favour "high art" (he mostly discusses classical music and classic visual art like paintings and sculpture). But Rookmaaker seemed to anticipate my consternation by pointing out that Watts "wrote popular songs on the HIGHEST level" (p. 59). Much of the creative output of evangelicalism is popular but it needs to be challenged to be produced at its highest possible peak. One minor quibble still remaining (and it IS a short book so not everything will be comprehensively addressed) is that Rookmaaker contends that "Art is rarely propaganda" but he doesn't both to distinguish art from propaganda.

[Johnnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For such a small book many profound statements abound. Very glad I read this one.

[Jared Kassebaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my most impactful books of 2017, second only to Holiness by JC Ryle, this liitle book, essentially a long essay, broke through my depressed brain as I lay most days in my tiny Chicago apartment, regretting recent life-decisions, searching aimlessly for what to do with my life and what to pursue. Reading this book, a reaction against the majority Christian's push that art most be evangelistic in nature to be 'justified' with a purpose, Hans spoke to me as one looking desperately for an answer to the subtle guilt I had bottled up inside myself for the notion that God's desire for my life is more than the one-dimensional attempt to make disciples in the narrow conception given by modern American Evangelicalism. He spoke to how God does not merely save us to recite a set of beliefs and then pass on that creed to others, but he saves us to life, a life that is full of joy and thankfulness, and that, of course, impacts the messages we preach and the joy of our message of Christ, but being saved is not the end of life, merely waiting for death to arrive, but is now the beginning of life, a full life, in God, one where we partake in his creation as his children. How I needed this little. I heard about it on a podcast, and I am sure it was God's providence altogether in my life. It has become by far my most re-read book of the past year, having read it multiple times whenever I feel my own natural goal-oriented drive begin to take over my peace in God in my life. Read this beautiful booklet and be encouraged by the beauty of the gospel impacting your life more than a set of creeds. I would buy this for every Christian if I could, and I am sure it will go down in my life on my bed stand until I die.

[David Campton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This brief but dense booklet has sat on my shelf unread for a long time, but a friend recommended I read it to inform my recent interest in fine art from a spiritual perspective. He may have come from a a different era and theological mindset than me, being from a conservative reformed tradition, but it certainly offered food for thought, and Rookmaaker seems to share a similar aesthetic spirituality/sensitivity to C.S. Lewis re the Arts, though clearly from a more informed perspective as far as painting and sculpture are concerned. However it probably suffers from being an unfinished work in that the author comes across as an artistic snob at least as far as fine art and modern art are concerned. Perhaps this ethic informed his more famous and complete work on "Modern Art and the Death of a Culture" but I cannot comment on that not having read it. More interesting is his assertion that the dislocation of arts and crafts and the dissociation of fine art from its function in society/culture has done it and us no favours. This, together with a few interesting asides in passing, including an important corrective re Christology on the way through, and his concluding brief reflection on the distinction of the fame of a few artists over and against the significant impact of works of art by artists who are large anonymous, will stick with me and stimulate further thought for some time.

[Davi Fonteles Lima · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apesar da valiosíssima visão sobre arte de Rookmaaker, um livro não é apenas boas ideias subdivididas em assuntos. Pode ser que eu não tenha conseguido captar a organização? Talvez, mas pelo que indica a edição, perto da morte esse "livro" de ideias foi o que sobrou de um pretenso livro desse professor de arte. Ou seja, muito do que está composto em "A Arte não Precisa de Justificativa" é uma forçada de barra, porque não há forma e conteúdo harmônico nessa escrita. CONTRADIZ o que os bons escritos ensinam.

Do nada ele volta para uma abordagem claramente cristã, quando se estava falando sobre normas, realidade, decoro, fora a exagerada repetição sobre a arte não ser neutra - e eu concordo. Esse é o tipo de livro que se vende pelo NOME, apenas. Porque livro mesmo ele não é. Por que não vender como um exímio rascunho póstumo??

Assim, a qualidade aqui é como Rookmaaker parece mais informal e mais uma vez corresponde a sua visão sobre arte que como cristão e professor promove uma junção que poucos conseguem entender e replicar. Um iluminado, sem dúvida. A tal ideia da Arte não precisar de justificativa e a associação com o anonimato, o cotidiano e o valor intríseco ao dentro, não por trás, confronta bastante tanto um crítico de cinema como eu como ajuda a entendermos até onde arte está indo...e como o público tem reagido a ela.

São escritos especiais, não um livro temático e bons conselhos organizados. Ao menos é curto.

[Zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I found this a delightful little book on art. As a musician, I greatly appreciated most of what he wrote and found it relevant to my role as an artist and a Christian. In his introduction he points out that many of his examples and considerations have to do with painting and sculpting because that is what he is most familiar with. Even so, he does touch on a few other artistic arenas, and most of his ideas flow pretty seamlessly from one sort of artistry to another.


I would highly recommend this book to anyone, young - old, educated or not - who is an artist or an aspiring artist. It is not too heavy in its musings, but it does challenge one to think well about his or her place in the artistic world and how one practices his or her art therein. I would also highly recommend it for any church leadership who want to think well about how to guide and disciple artists in their church. Additionally, I think his thoughts are highly relevant to any church desiring to develop an arts program.


In the end, the short book is about understanding art in its right place in the world and society, and thinking well about what it means to be a good artist, a Christian artist, in the world.

[Mariane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Precioso demais! Livro curto, mas que foi uma surpresa profunda, por trazer com tanta clareza tudo que percebia e não sabia nomear sobre as dificuldades da arte, e do artista cristão com o cristianismo, como nos sentimos sozinhos e como é difícil se expressar sem que nos peçam justificativas, do porque fazemos. Mas a arte não precisa de justificativa, foi criada por Deus e para a glória dEle, e a faremos assim, ainda que não entendamos por completam, ainda que não a entendam, ela não deixará de ser feita com tanta excelência quanto pudermos fazer!

[Carlos Henrique · Rating 4 out of 5]

O autor se propõe a elucidar algumas questões de cosmovisão e corrigir alguns equívocos dos cristãos no que diz respeito à arte, tanto em seu consumo quanto em sua produção. O motivo de não dar cinco estrelas é o pequeno tamanho do livro e a forma rápido como o autor responde perguntas tão complexas e que geraria um debate e estudo muito mais profundo caso tivesse tido a chance. Ademais, para aqueles que querem glorificar a Deus por meio de sua Arte, o talento que o Senhor deu a você, saiba que este livro trará luz sobre algumas das possíveis e mais comuns questões do tema.

[Ryan Pelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic little book on Christians and the arts. Rookmaaker argues that art needs "no justification" and Christians shouldn't be ashamed to be artists. The book is a quick read but filled with solid teaching and practical steps on how to be an artist in God's world. Good for those who consider themselves artists, and those who want to encourage other artists.

[Isaque · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amei a linguagem leve e fácil, comi o livro, é bem objetivo. A visão dele sobre os artistas é maravilhosa, abriu meus olhos p/ muitas coisas e outras confirmaram pensamentos q já tinha. Tenho ressalvas quanto a parte em que fala sobre decoro e qualidade da arte, preciso ler mais obras dele pra entender como realmente pensava.

[VINICIUS DUARTE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uma leitura muito gostosa. Para quem gosta do tema e cosmovisão é um prato cheio repleto de variados temperos e sabores que vão mexer com seu paladar. Recomendo muito a leitura para todo o entusiasta, como eu, do estudo da arte e todo o crente que deseja servir a Deus fielmente todos os dias de sua vida.

[Max Oliveira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livro que gostei.

Provocou minhas concepções sobre a teologia da arte a voarem um pouco mais alto, a olharem um pouco mais longe.

Contudo, é difícil não ficar com a sensação de que poderia ter sido um pouco mais longo. Explicado e refletido mais sobre alguns pontos, enriquecido algumas fundamentações, enfim, as ideias dessa obra mereciam um passo mais relaxado de reflexão.

[Mara S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Foi um bom começo para entender a obra de Rookmaaker. O livro é muito bom e gosto de como ele organiza o discurso e fiquei curiosa para ler algo mais técnico dele. Só não recebe 5 estrelas porque é curtinho e fiquei segurando para não ler tudo.

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book I wish I had read earlier in my life. Informative and straightforward and challenging. Speaks of beautiful creative freedom that can be found while not ignoring taste and environment and skill. An inspiring Christian perspective on creating. I look forward to rereading this.

[Kenny Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten years after first reading it, this remains one of my favourite Christian books and I think one of the best to give to Christians involved in any way in the arts. A must-read!

[Morgana Mendonça dos Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livro intrigante, ousado. Vale a pena lê-lo!

[Kevin Casto · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful encouragement to Christian artists seeking to understand their role as an artist and Christ follower in a post-Christian world.

[Daniel Reis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Um livro bem mediano! Mas acredito que alguns trechos e algumas ideias podem ser aproveitadas.

[Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful little book packed with wisdom and challenge. “What we cannot afford to be without needs no justification.”

[Waddellski · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh.
i done see what all the fuss was about.
the guy was a jazz expert and it reads like a jazz song, only those that get it get it. i don't get it

[Arden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful short book on the meaning of art and why it needs no justification because it is a God- given gift.