The young man and the sea by Hippolyte Flandarin has long been my favorite painting, and while the rest of the world has moved onto modernism, and other forms of contemporary art. I relish classical form. I also find that the mood of this piece can fluctuate from downright depressing to deeply introspective.
It provides me a reminder of the adage that we came into the world with nothing and we leave with nothing. While life should not be a solitary thing; self expression - the ability to share our viewpoint, thoughts, feelings, and reactions are the core of art. Artists have a variety of visual outlets; painting, sculpture, drawing, and photography. Others paint with words through poetry. Some escape to completely fantastical worlds, and while I appreciate the work of Salvatore Dali, I don't respond to it as I do the Dutch masters, or the genius of the renaissance. Art also provides a history of the intellect of mankind - allowing glimpses into our collective understanding as a species, and of our shortcomings.