Of course no less than Goya and Gericault have checked in on this, as you probably know already.

I’ve never taught art, yet I want to add something awkward but vital – that art isn’t a positive force in the present. Rather, its power resides in its neutrality. With the pressures that come with doing artwork, that is something easy to lose- it’s a stance tough to balance with socialization, but art doesn’t constitute a contribution to society per se – you can’t  let students go without an awareness that they’re going to have to find a way to redeem their choice of devoting time to artwork.

Alex Stein, artist

http://tenderandendangeredcowhorseofdimness.com/