Art, Aesthetics, and Idolatry (Part 2)

In Part 1 we began to explore some of the sources in Tanach which indicate a Torah perspective on art, beauty and the aesthetic.

• These include a focus on the Mishkan and its construction using Chochma, Bina and Da’at, which mirrors that of the universe.
• We also touched on the thought of Rav Kook, who invoked the mystical and Sefirotic concept of Tiferet (and by implication Chesed and Gevura) in the relationship between art, the tzadik and divine inspiration.
• In this shiur we will look to the thought of other key commentators - Rav Hirsch and Rav Soloveitchik - and also the positions of some contemporary thinkers.