In nearly every culture on Earth, the sun has played a prominent part in their artistic and religious lives. As such, the portrayal of this symbol in artwork today and in times past is no surprise. Whether it's in photography or on canvas, featuring the sun in art is a powerful symbol of strength, renewal, and warmth that has fascinated audiences and decorated their homes since ancient times.
Contemporary and traditional artists frequently used stylized sun art, even to the point of adding human faces or mannerisms to them. These symbols were used for a variety of reasons, depending on the subject being painted. Frequently, monarchs were painted with the addition of some form of sun imagery which was supposed to communicate these rulers divine right to the throne. Additionally, sun canvas art was popular in early religious art as an indicator of time and also as a symbol of the death and rebirth of Christ.
In graphic depictions of suns, such as was seen in the French Baroque style, the rays of the sun were the most distinctive aspect of this symbol. These rays could be highly decorative, and many of the modern artists who use this subject in their work take this same approach in their artistic interpretations. However, many popular modern artists have also chosen to disregard the sun's idealized rays in favor of a more realistic depiction that serves as a symbolic vehicle for another element of the paintings design or as a part of the artist’s message. One example of this type of treatment is in the painting 'Sky of Many Suns I' by Patricia Pinto.
Additionally, modern culture has become fascinated with the realistic portrayal of the sun through the use of photographs and depictions of outer space. These works are accurate and help to give the viewer a reminder of the fact that they are only a part of the universe they live in. Images of activity on the sun are also popular, such as solar flares and other signs of cosmic unrest.
