The Artist as Historian
Using Your Work to Document Our Time
You’ve probably heard people say that art reflects the world we live in. But have you ever thought about the fact that you are the one shaping that reflection? As an artist, you’re in a unique position to capture the cultural, social, or political moments happening right now. You might be doing this already, even if it’s not on purpose. Your work—whether it’s figurative, abstract, digital, or physical—can act as a kind of time capsule for future viewers.
This isn’t just about making art that’s obviously political or documentary-style. Even if you create abstract work, you’re still responding to what’s around you. The colors you use, the themes you explore, the materials you choose—all of these decisions are influenced by the world you live in. When someone looks at your work ten, twenty, or fifty years from now, they’ll get a glimpse of what life was like in this moment.
Why Documenting the Present Matters
We’re living in a time when everything moves fast. News, social media, and constant information make it easy to forget what happened just last week, let alone last year. Artists offer a different way of recording the moment. Your work can capture feelings, experiences, and perspectives that get lost in the noise of the daily news cycle and social media feeds.
Think about art from important historical periods. When we look at paintings from the Renaissance, murals from the Mexican Revolution, or posters from the 1960s civil rights movement, we see more than just images. We see stories. We understand what people cared about, what they feared, and what they celebrated. Art connects us emotionally to history in a way that textbooks can’t.
The same thing is happening now. When you create art that reflects what’s going on, you’re contributing to a bigger story about this era. Your work helps capture the parts of life that other records might miss. It’s a way of saying, “This is what it felt like to be alive right now.” That matters.
How to Reflect the Times in Your Work
You might be wondering how to be more intentional about documenting the present. Maybe you’re already doing it naturally. But if you want to be more deliberate, here are some things to think about.
First, ask yourself: What’s happening right now that’s affecting you? It doesn’t have to be a global event. It could be something local, personal, or cultural. Maybe it’s a change in your community, a trend you’re noticing, or a political issue that’s on your mind. Think about how these things make you feel and how you might express those feelings through your art.
Your work doesn’t have to be literal. If you don’t usually make representational art, that’s fine. Abstract work can still capture the mood of a moment. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by current events, maybe you use colors or shapes that feel chaotic. If you’re feeling hopeful, maybe your work is brighter and more energetic. Another approach is to use symbols or materials that connect to the themes you care about. For example, if you’re thinking about environmental issues, you could use recycled materials or natural pigments.
Mixing Personal Expression with Broader Themes
Documenting the present doesn’t mean giving up your personal style or voice. Your perspective is what makes your work important. How you experience the world—your background, your community, your identity—adds meaning to the story you’re telling. Your personal experiences are part of the historical record. When you create art that shows how you are experiencing life right now, you’re adding to the larger picture. If you’re part of a marginalized community, your work might highlight stories that don’t often get attention. If you’re dealing with specific challenges, your art can give those challenges a voice that others relate to.
At the same time, think about how your work fits into the bigger cultural or political context. What ideas or movements are shaping this era? How does your work connect to those ideas? You don’t have to change your art to match a trend or narrative, but being aware of these connections can make your work feel more intentional.
Artists Who Documented Their Times
Many artists have documented their times, whether they meant to or not. Think about someone like Jacob Lawrence, who chronicled the Great Migration through his powerful series of paintings. His work wasn’t just about capturing individual scenes; it was about telling a larger story of a cultural shift that shaped American history.
More recently, artists like Ai Weiwei have used their work to comment on political and social issues. Ai’s installations, photographs, and sculptures often address themes of censorship, human rights, and government control. His work is a form of historical documentation because it captures the tension and struggles of contemporary China.
Even abstract artists document the present. Julie Mehretu’s large-scale paintings show the complexity and chaos of modern urban life. Her work doesn’t depict specific events, but it captures the feeling of living in a fast-changing, globalized world.
Shaping How This Time is Remembered
As an artist, you’re helping shape how people will remember this time. Maybe your work ends up in galleries, museums, or archives. Maybe it lives on social media or in someone’s home. Either way, you’re contributing to a record of the present. This doesn’t mean you have to stress about making “important” work. Just making art that reflects your reality is enough. You don’t need all the answers, and you don’t have to know how your work will be received. What matters is paying attention and expressing what you see and feel.
In a fast-changing world, your art can help people make sense of the present. It can also give future generations a glimpse of what life was like right now. By making art about today, you’re creating a record that will outlast you. So, next time you create, think about what you’re capturing. What does your work say about the world right now? How does it reflect the cultural or political climate? You might realize that you’re already documenting history—one brushstroke, click, or pencil mark at a time.
