Reply To: Propaganda Art

[Maggie May]

Art is, by definition, a method of communication. It makes sense that in times where only the rich and powerful could afford to commission art, they might manipulate it to propagate a certain message or idea. Often, art with certain themes would be commissioned in order to promote an idea, and art with certain themes would be repressed to suppress an idea or movement. We can observe this in the Roman empire by considering art which often depicted leaders as more powerful, or more just. This art promoted the idea among citizens that the leaders were fit to rule, and therefore helped them to sustain their power. Propoganda art was certainly a powerful tool during this time.