• Art and the Human Narrative
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The Artifact as Argument: Art and the Human Narrative

The Artifact as Argument: Art and the Human Narrative

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Publication Details

ISBN: 979-11-994237-9-4
Release date: January 9, 2026
Format: eBook (PDF)
Page count: 119
Content curator: Eva M Shin
Publisher (imprint): Veritaum
Sold by: Veritaum LLC
Copyright © 2026 Veritaum LLC. All rights reserved.

This collection of essays explores how art serves as a powerful medium for expressing, shaping, and challenging individual and collective identities. It posits that every work of art is an argument—that from an artist’s most intimate canvas to the transformation of the landscape itself, creative expression makes potent claims about our identity, cultural heritage, and social norms. The essays decode these visual arguments, examining how artists navigate personal experience and historical narratives to complicate our perception of self and community, demonstrating that art is never a passive object but a vital arena where the human narrative is continuously debated and redefined.

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What’s Inside

  • Painting the Counter-Reformation: Revisiting the Sistine Chapel as a Theological Document

    Look beyond the masterpiece to uncover the argument within. This essay re-examines Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling not merely as iconic art, but as a profound theological document that fused Renaissance Humanism with Catholic doctrine. Discover how the artist acted as a theologian, shaping the visual language of the Counter-Reformation and proving art’s power to represent—and even define—religious belief.

  • Shah Jahan’s Reign in Art: From Power to Personal Longing in The Pādshāhnāma and Dynastic Portraits

    Journey into the opulent world of the Mughal Empire as this essay examines how Emperor Shah Jahan meticulously crafted his imperial and personal identity through art. Discover how historical chronicles like The Pādshāhnāma and dynastic portraits served not merely as documentation, but as strategic tools to solidify power and express deeply personal themes of vulnerability and grief, shaping an enduring legacy.

  • Jewish Centrality in Ben Shahn’s Murals: An American Leftist Artist in the New Deal Era

    Explore the profound influence of Jewish identity on the art of Ben Shahn, a key figure in the American New Deal era. This essay reveals how Shahn’s iconic Jersey Homesteads Mural became a canvas for expressing the complex “trials and tribulations” of Jewish American history, offering a unique perspective on identity within social and political movements.

  • Artemisia Gentileschi: Baroque Master and the Preeminent Caravaggisti

    Uncover the untold story of Artemisia Gentileschi, a Baroque master whose genius was overshadowed by pervasive gender bias. This insightful essay challenges centuries of historical misjudgment, offering a comparative analysis with Caravaggio that re-establishes Artemisia’s rightful place as a preeminent figure whose powerful work defiantly expressed her identity in a male-dominated world.

  • Anomalous Renaissance: Why Skilled Masters Created “Imperfect” Art

    Why would a Renaissance master create “imperfect” art? This essay investigates two anomalous paintings by skilled artists Martini and Signorelli that defy the era’s standards of naturalism. It argues these “flaws” were actually deliberate compromises made for non-elite patrons. By prioritizing a clear religious narrative for the intimacy of private worship, their work reveals how economic and devotional contexts can profoundly shape the final form of a masterpiece.

  • Cultural Heritage and Colonial Legacy: Examining the Benin Bronzes and the Dynamics of Repatriation

    Grapple with the complex issues surrounding cultural identity and colonial legacy through the enduring saga of the Benin Bronzes. This paper explores the historical journey of these exquisite artifacts, from their creation in the Kingdom of Benin to their contested presence in Western museums, illuminating the ongoing international debates about ownership, repatriation, and the preservation of national heritage.