Abraham Kuyper's nascent views on Art
Keywords:
Abraham Kuyper; aesthetics; art; CalvinismAbstract
Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920) began to develop a Reformational approach to art; his work provided a key turning point in the development of contemporary views of Calvinism and art. His view can be summarized as, art is a gift of God that shows itself in an ability, which portrays beauty that can be enjoyed by all. In this paper, I expound his view by looking primarily at his Stone Lecture on ‘Calvinism and art’ (1888), where he draws upon Calvin, and defends Calvinism, extracts from writings on common grace in Wisdom and Wonder (1905) and the final section of his Pro Rege (1912).
I conclude that he was not fully successful in developing a Reformational aesthetic, in that he underplays the role of the antithesis in art and overemphasized the role of beauty. He tended towards a dualistic – almost neo-platonic – view of beauty. However, his nascent views provided the framework for Dooyeweerd to develop an ontology that includes the aesthetic, and Rookmaaker and Seerveld among others developed his view that art is part of a cultural mandate and not merely the fringes on a theological garment.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
In Terms of the provisions in the Copyright Act, 98 of 1987, as amended, the copyright of author(s) in regard to articles submitted to and published in the Journal for Christian Scholarship is protected. The Vereniging vir Christelike Hoër Onderwys (VCHO) posesses the vested rights (copyright) in regard to published issues of the journal.
Die outeursreg (kopiereg) van outers ten opsigte van voorgelegde artikels aan en gepubliseerde artikels in die Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap word beskerm, ingevolge die bepalings van die Wet op Outeursreg, 98 van 1987, soos gewysig. Die Vereniging vir Christelike Hoër Onderwys (VCHO) beskik oor die gevestigde regte (outeursreg) ten opsigte van gepubliseerde uitgawes van die tydskrif.
