Art We Heart: Love

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Art We ♥ is a hand-selected art feature, chosen by deviantART staff members, showcasing art we believe the community will enjoy.


:iconmattdanna: Some thoughts from Matt (mattdanna)

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, the word "love" is in no short supply. Stores are trying to get you to buy everything from chocolates and jewelry to vacation getaways for that special someone in your life. As someone who's been notoriously single on Valentine's Day, the L word starts to sound like nails on chalkboard leading up to the days before February 14th. Nevertheless, I thought it would be neat to explore art depicting different types of love.

In Greek culture, there are several different words for "love": philía, storgē, agápe, and éros. The Greek language distinguishes the different ways "love" is used. Philía is the type of love and affection you feel with friends and community. Storgē is the love and affection felt by family, especially parents for their children. Agápe is the unconditional and all-consuming love that felt from admiration and mutual respect. And last but certainly not least, éros is the love of passion and intimacy.








Love is complex. Love is delicate. And as we get ready for Cupid's holiday, I leave you with this quote by C.S. Lewis:
"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket — safe, dark, motionless, airless — it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell." - C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Love by dreaming-star I want to hear from you!
- Are you ready for Valentine's Day?
- Do you look forward to Valentine's Day?
- Do you celebrate Valentine's Day in your country? 

Spill your thoughts in the comments below!














Philía (φιλία): "Friendly Love"

:thumb163845653: Sterling Heart Friendship Pendants by strawberrylolli friends will be friends by L-N-E:thumb166911166: Brainy Best Friends Necklace by True-Crimeberry hug me by acupofcoffe Friends by AlbinoNial friends by Rona-Keller For all my friends - Friends by Skategirl Best Friends by SinfulEyes FriendFriend
You're the greatest
Friend I'll ever know,
I care for you more than
I'll ever show.
I'm here for you,
As you're there for me,
I feel we are family,
You are a sister to me,
And as sisters can grow apart,
You'll always have a special place in my heart.
We laugh, we cry,
With you,
My fears are set aside,
Knowing there's nothing I can't face
As long as you are near.
I know that someday,
Our paths will fade away,
We will have to say goodbye,
Nothing lasts forever,
Just know this,
No matter what the end,
I feel privileged to call you
Friend.
:thumb153154977:


Storgē (στοργή): "Family Love"

Brother by chechulia:thumb74235782: Grandmother by landzero Affection. by little-miss-pink Tiny Twins by Angela4 A FamilyA family is like a circle
the connection never ends
and even if at times it breaks
in time it always mends
a family is like the stars
somehow there always there
families are those who assist
who  encourage and always care
A family is like a book
the endings is never clear
but throughout the pages
the love is always there
A family is many things
with infinite words that show
who they are and what they do
and how they've taught you.
Your family will always be
they help define who you are
and will be a part of you forever.
Brother and Sister by tafelrand grandmother by limajoser:thumb190371154: BNA Brother and Sister by ba-nhan-a Portal - Companion Cube by Terror-Inferno:thumb125951924::thumb28727401: Love by jpdean:thumb282194193: SisterSister
I love you for who you are
you have your flaws
but so do I
I love you for who you are
You treat me like a hero
You follow me everywhere
and you copy everything I do
But I see another hero
And that hero resides in you
You are an innocent angel
and because of that I can smile
you are a reminder that there is
at least one pure soul left in our world
I come home happy knowing that I will see
that angelic smile again
You are the closest friend I've ever known
And you know me like your favorite book
I can be what I truly am
and never fear ridicule
because I am with you.
I love you
my little sister.




Agápe (Greek: ἀγάπη): "Unconditional Love"

Affection by ALBITAR Wedding rings by yguleva Best Friends by Eibography My Heart, Your Hands by LacerationLove:thumb127238061::thumb280168127::thumb57566534: Mother and Child 03 by Coffee-Monster:thumb278998084: love by idilsalihakuntuz JohnnyP with puppy 3 by khavi best friend by sigpras Imaginary friend by kittenkraze Definition of True LoveI wonder...have you ever thought that your heart is born with a piece missing? And instead of that piece, there's little broken pieces of other hearts. And when you date someone, you give them back their piece of heart and they give you yours. That's why you love each other. You love the feeling of being whole again. But then you break up and those pieces are gone forever. You both lost some of your heart. But then you find the next person.  And the process repeats. Someday, you won't have any pieces of other's hearts left. You will have used them all up. It's just your heart left with a hole in it. 
But then you meet Him. And you love each other without giving back the missing pieces of heart. You love each other as you are, broken and missing. And when you are together forever, you  willingly take a piece of your heart and give it to Him. And He does the same for you. Your hearts are never complete now, but they don't have to be. You live because the other person lives



Éros (ἔρως): "Intimate Love"

kataang - elements in love by molokolo Hug by Mymadhatter love by princessambrosia a Letter by Alephunky Sweet Date by NanaLany:thumb60485826: passion by neasek The LetterDear my love,
It's been so long.
I'm writing now
For you to know
I'm thinking of you
As these letters meet your eyes.
You might not remember me,
I'm probably just a memory
Or a secret
You know nothing about.
Yet I think of you
Every morning when I wake,
Every evening when I dine.
I remember your voice
So well,
As if it were my own.
I do not ask for much.
I never have
And never will.
But I've a request for you
And only you.
Would you be so kind
To meet me
One last time?
You already know
The dwellings of my heart.
Till then,
Your stranger.
:thumb45172927: True Love by Slag-Heap:thumb72084294: Is this Love by aNdikapatRya words of love by oprisco What is Love? by bbandittt THE PASSION OF THE FAE by Rickbw1:thumb215387770: Love by Cuellar Declaration of Love by kuschelirmel love love love by Grinch7






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Acidburn713's avatar
I like Valentines day, it gives me a chance to show how much I care about and appreciate all my family and friends. The only sad thing is that I never have had anyone to share "that day" with. I'm so happy that everyone else is happy, but I envy them a bit. Is it too much to ask the universe to help me be happy too?