Art vs. Nature — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 28, 2023
Art is human-made expressions or creations, while Nature refers to the natural world and its phenomena.
Difference Between Art and Nature
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Art is a manifestation of human creativity and expression. It encompasses a vast range of activities like painting, sculpture, music, and literature, where individuals channel their emotions, thoughts, and experiences. On the other hand, Nature pertains to the universe's inherent state, including plants, animals, landscapes, and other features not significantly altered by humans.
Both Art and Nature can evoke profound emotional responses. While art is the product of deliberate human action, seeking to communicate or evoke emotion, Nature offers spontaneous beauty, complexity, and mystery, often inspiring the art itself. Many artists find inspiration in the intricate patterns, colors, and phenomena present in Nature, showcasing a deep interplay between the two.
While Art requires an artist, a creator, Nature simply exists, independent of human intention. Nature's phenomena, from the blooming of a flower to the formation of a mountain range, are results of natural processes. In contrast, art emerges from human intent and design, a testament to our desire to represent, understand, or augment our world.
The preservation of both Art and Nature is vital. Art offers a window into human history, culture, and individual expression, encapsulating moments or ideas for future generations. Nature, however, is the very foundation of life, providing essential resources, ecological balance, and the raw beauty that has influenced countless artists over millennia.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Human-made expressions or creations.
The inherent state of the universe.
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Origin
Result of human intention and creativity.
Exists spontaneously, without human intention.
Role
Represents, augments, or interprets reality.
Constitutes the actual reality.
Influence
Inspired by emotions, experiences, and sometimes Nature.
Often inspires art and human thought.
Preservation
Conserved in museums, galleries, recordings, etc.
Protected through conservation efforts.
Compare with Definitions
Art
Human expression through creative skills and imagination.
Renaissance paintings are classic examples of art.
Nature
The innate or essential qualities of something.
It is in the nature of water to flow.
Art
Works produced by artists, including paintings, music, literature, etc.
The museum displayed art from various periods.
Nature
The universe's phenomena, excluding human creations.
Volcanoes, with their fiery eruptions, are powerful displays of nature.
Art
A medium to convey or elicit emotion.
The movie was a work of art that moved many to tears.
Nature
A wild, unaltered environment.
The nature reserve is home to many endangered species.
Art
The intentional arrangement of elements in a manner that appeals to the senses.
The art of arranging flowers is called ikebana.
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is the natural, physical, material world or universe. "Nature" can refer to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general.
Art
Art is a diverse range of (and products of) human activities involving creative imagination to express technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas.There is no generally agreed definition of what constitutes art, and ideas have changed over time. The three classical branches of visual art are painting, sculpture, and architecture.
Nature
The phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations
The breathtaking beauty of nature
Art
The conscious use of the imagination in the production of objects intended to be contemplated or appreciated as beautiful, as in the arrangement of forms, sounds, or words.
Nature
The basic or inherent features, character, or qualities of something
Helping them to realize the nature of their problems
There are a lot of other documents of that nature
Art
Such activity in the visual or plastic arts
Takes classes in art at the college.
Nature
The material world and its phenomena
Scientists analyzing nature.
Art
Products of this activity; imaginative works considered as a group
Art on display in the lobby.
Nature
The forces and processes that produce and control these phenomena
The balance of nature.
Art
A field or category of art, such as music, ballet, or literature.
Nature
The world of living things and the outdoors
Spent the day enjoying nature.
Art
A nonscientific branch of learning; one of the liberal arts.
Nature
A primitive state of existence, untouched and uninfluenced by civilization or social constraints
When people lived in a state of nature.
Art
A skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation
The art of negotiation.
Nature
The basic character or qualities of humanity
It is only human nature to worry about the future.
Art
Arts Artful devices, stratagems, and tricks.
Nature
The fundamental character or disposition of a person; temperament
A man of an irascible nature.
Art
Artful contrivance; cunning.
Nature
The set of inherent characteristics or properties that distinguish something
Trying to determine the nature of a newly discovered phenomenon.
Art
(Printing) Illustrative material, especially in contrast to text.
Nature
A kind or sort
Confidences of a personal nature.
Art
A second person singular present indicative of be.
Nature
The processes and functions of the body, as in healing
The doctor decided not to do anything and let nature take its course.
Art
(uncountable) The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colours, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the senses and emotions, usually specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium.
There is a debate as to whether graffiti is art or vandalism.
Nature
Heredity
Behavior more influenced by nature than nurture.
Art
(uncountable) The creative and emotional expression of mental imagery, such as visual, auditory, social, etc.
Nature
The way things are, the totality of all things in the physical universe and their order, especially the physical world in contrast to spiritual realms and flora and fauna as distinct from human conventions, art, and technology.
Nature doesn't lie.
The laws of nature are written in the language of mathematics.
Tectonic activity is part of nature, so there's no way to stop earthquakes.
Art
(countable) Skillful creative activity, usually with an aesthetic focus.
She's mastered the art of programming.
Nature
The particular way someone or something is, especially
Art
(uncountable) The study and the product of these processes.
He's at university to study art.
Nature
The essential or innate characteristics of a person or thing which will always tend to manifest, especially in contrast to specific contexts, reason, religious duty, upbringing, and personal pretense or effort.
It's not in my nature to steal.
You can't help feeling that way. It's human nature.
Power corrupts. That's just the nature of the beast.
Art
(uncountable) Aesthetic value.
Her photographs are nice, but there's no art in them.
Nature
The distinguishing characteristic of a person or thing, understood as its general class, sort, type, etc.
What was the nature of your relationship with the deceased?
The best medium might be petroleum, liquified gas, or something of that nature.
Art
(uncountable) Artwork.
Sotheby's regularly auctions art for millions.
Art collection
Nature
Synonym of caliber: the class of a gun.
Art
(countable) A field or category of art, such as painting, sculpture, music, ballet, or literature.
I'm a great supporter of the arts.
Nature
The vital functions or strength of someone or something, especially as requiring nourishment or careful maintenance or (medicine) as a force of regeneration without special treatment.
Art
(countable) A nonscientific branch of learning; one of the liberal arts.
Nature
A requirement or powerful impulse of the body's physical form, especially
Art
(countable) Skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation.
Nature
The need to urinate and defecate.
I hear the call of nature.
Art
Contrivance, scheming, manipulation.
Nature
Sexual desire.
Art
The second person singular, indicative mode, present tense, of the substantive verb Be; but formed after the analogy of the plural are, with the ending -t, as in thou shalt, wilt, orig. an ending of the second person sing. pret. Cf. Be. Now used only in solemn or poetical style.
Nature
Spontaneous love, affection, or reverence, especially between parent and child.
Art
The employment of means to accomplish some desired end; the adaptation of things in the natural world to the uses of life; the application of knowledge or power to practical purposes.
Blest with each grace of nature and of art.
Nature
A product of the body's physical form, especially semen and vaginal fluids, menstrual fluid, and (obsolete) feces.
Art
A system of rules serving to facilitate the performance of certain actions; a system of principles and rules for attaining a desired end; method of doing well some special work; - often contradistinguished from science or speculative principles; as, the art of building or engraving; the art of war; the art of navigation.
Science is systematized knowledge . . . Art is knowledge made efficient by skill.
Nature
A part of the body's physical form, especially (obsolete) the female genitalia.
Art
The systematic application of knowledge or skill in effecting a desired result. Also, an occupation or business requiring such knowledge or skill.
The fishermen can't employ their art with so much success in so troubled a sea.
Nature
(obsolete) To endow with natural qualities.
Art
The application of skill to the production of the beautiful by imitation or design, or an occupation in which skill is so employed, as in painting and sculpture; one of the fine arts; as, he prefers art to literature.
Nature
The existing system of things; the universe of matter, energy, time and space; the physical world; all of creation. Contrasted with the world of mankind, with its mental and social phenomena.
But looks through nature up to nature's God.
When, in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bonds which have connected them with another, ans to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal Station which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to the Separation.
Nature has caprices which art can not imitate.
Art
Those branches of learning which are taught in the academical course of colleges; as, master of arts.
In fearless youth we tempt the heights of arts.
Four years spent in the arts (as they are called in colleges) is, perhaps, laying too laborious a foundation.
Nature
The personified sum and order of causes and effects; the powers which produce existing phenomena, whether in the total or in detail; the agencies which carry on the processes of creation or of being; - often conceived of as a single and separate entity, embodying the total of all finite agencies and forces as disconnected from a creating or ordering intelligence; as, produced by nature; the forces of nature.
I oft admireHow Nature, wise and frugal, could commitSuch disproportions.
Art
Learning; study; applied knowledge, science, or letters.
So vast is art, so narrow human wit.
Nature
The established or regular course of things; usual order of events; connection of cause and effect.
Art
Skill, dexterity, or the power of performing certain actions, acquired by experience, study, or observation; knack; as, a man has the art of managing his business to advantage.
Nature
Conformity to that which is natural, as distinguished from that which is artificial, or forced, or remote from actual experience.
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.
Art
Skillful plan; device.
They employed every art to soothe . . . the discontented warriors.
Nature
The sum of qualities and attributes which make a person or thing what it is, as distinct from others; native character; inherent or essential qualities or attributes; peculiar constitution or quality of being.
Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem,Their nature also to thy nature join,And be thyself man among men on earth.
Art
Cunning; artifice; craft.
Madam, I swear I use no art at all.
Animals practice art when opposed to their superiors in strength.
Nature
Kind, sort; character; quality.
A dispute of this nature caused mischief.
Art
The black art; magic.
In America, literature and the elegant arts must grow up side by side with the coarser plants of daily necessity.
Nature
Physical constitution or existence; the vital powers; the natural life.
Oppressed nature sleeps.
Art
The products of human creativity; works of art collectively;
An art exhibition
A fine collection of art
Nature
Natural affection or reverence.
Have we not seenThe murdering son ascend his parent's bed,Through violated nature force his way?
Art
The creation of beautiful or significant things;
Art does not need to be innovative to be good
I was never any good at art
He said that architecture is the art of wasting space beautifully
Nature
Constitution or quality of mind or character.
A born devil, on whose natureNurture can never stick.
That reverence which is due to a superior nature.
Art
A superior skill that you can learn by study and practice and observation;
The art of conversation
It's quite an art
Nature
To endow with natural qualities.
He [God] which natureth every kind.
Art
Photographs or other visual representations in a printed publication;
The publisher was responsible for all the artwork in the book
Nature
The essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized;
It is the nature of fire to burn
The true nature of jealousy
Art
A discipline or activity that requires a specific set of skills or techniques.
The art of negotiation is crucial in diplomacy.
Nature
A causal agent creating and controlling things in the universe;
The laws of nature
Nature has seen to it that men are stronger than women
Nature
The natural physical world including plants and animals and landscapes etc.;
They tried to preserve nature as they found it
Nature
The complex of emotional and intellectual attributes that determine a person's characteristic actions and reactions;
It is his nature to help others
Nature
A particular type of thing;
Problems of this type are very difficult to solve
He's interested in trains and things of that nature
Matters of a personal nature
Nature
The inherent physical world and its organisms.
The beauty of nature is unparalleled.
Nature
The essential character or basic constitution of a person or thing.
Kindness is second nature to her.
Common Curiosities
How is Nature defined?
Nature refers to the inherent physical world, its organisms, and phenomena.
What is Art?
Art is a manifestation of human creativity and expression, encompassing activities like painting, music, and literature.
Why is Nature's preservation crucial?
Nature provides essential resources and ecological balance vital for life and human sustenance.
Can something be both Art and Nature?
While Art is human-made and Nature is spontaneous, some human-altered landscapes or gardens blur the lines between the two.
What's the relationship between Art and Nature?
Art often seeks to represent, interpret, or augment Nature, while Nature can inspire and influence art.
How is Art preserved?
Art is often conserved in museums, galleries, recordings, and writings.
Can Nature inspire Art?
Yes, Nature often serves as a profound inspiration for artists across various mediums.
How does Art impact society?
Art influences culture, values, and emotions, reflecting and shaping societal beliefs and ideas.
Is all Art visual?
No, art spans various mediums, including auditory arts like music and literature.
Who decides what is considered Art?
While some standards are set by cultural, academic, or professional consensus, art is often subjective and varies by personal interpretation.
Is Nature always untouched by humans?
While Nature refers to the natural state of the universe, many parts of Nature have been influenced or altered by human activity.
Can Art exist without Nature?
While art can be independent, Nature has been a timeless inspiration and canvas for countless art forms.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
