Sztuka i wiara w myśli Jana Pawła II

This paper is an attempt at a preliminary analysis of the relationship between art and faith in the thoughts of Pope John Paul II. It addresses (1) the religious dimension of real art, (2) the issue of artistic talent, (3) the relationship between “beauty” (kalón) and “vocation” (kaleîn), (4) the rightful autonomy of art and (5) the longing for beauty as a trace of the presence of God in the human heart.
John Paul II would point out that in works of art we deal not only with artistic beauty, but also with the beauty of faith. For the mere perfect mastery of technical skills does not guarantee the creation of great works of art. An artist must create according to the proper criterion of action, i.e. the moral dimension. Artistic talent is a special natural distinction which gives rise to great responsibility. By creating a piece of artworks, not only does the artist trigger the existence of a certain object or situation, but also reveals his or her personality and can develop spiritually. Contact with works of art can become a way of discovering God.