Let's understand what a masterpiece is and how it originated

We watch movies and serials of different genres, we all read books, both fiction and nonfiction, and we try to read paintings.

- (Text of a lecture delivered by BHAGYA RAJAPAKSE)

Michelangelo's David - Academy Gallery Florence

A certain part of the day most of us spend our time on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Wattpad, or TikTok watching or reading the contents. Whenever we come across something unusual, of course rich in creativity, on those platforms, we generally used to call or comment on them as 'truly a masterpiece,' 'incredible work,' or 'great job,' etc.

In a general sense, why would we call something a 'MASTERPIECE'?

A YouTube video or an Insta reel with eye-catching content, also overlaid with a rhythmic melody or adorned with a beautiful voiceover we pass a comment saying it's 'a masterpiece' because we enjoyed the content.

Sometimes a mother appreciates a piece of drawing made by her five-year-old kid by calling it 'a masterpiece.' Because she admires the work by her child. So, we call a work of art in any context 'a masterpiece' to admire the content.

On another occasion we watch a movie or read a novel with a heart-wrenching plot. And we empathise with the characters we met in those plots. We sometimes build strong emotional connections with the characters we find, and we see ourselves mirrored. So, at the end we commend the movie or the fiction as 'a masterpiece.' Because the plot and the characters could resonate with the emotions of the viewer or the reader. When a work of art is capable of evoking empathy in us, we unhesitatingly call it 'a masterpiece.' Because the plot and the characters could resonate with the emotions of the viewer or the reader. When a work of art is capable of evoking empathy in us, we unhesitatingly call it 'a masterpiece."

Picasso's Bulls head (33.5 x 43.5 x 19 cm), Musée Picasso, Paris