Introduction
The artist summary class 12 is an important lesson prescribed in the Bihar Board Class 12 English syllabus. The story “The Artist” is written by the famous Japanese writer Shiga Naoya. This story deals with the inner life of an artist and shows how true art demands honesty, patience, sacrifice, and deep self-examination. The chapter is simple in language but deep in meaning, making it very important from the examination point of view.
About the Writer—Shiga Naoya
Shiga Naoya was one of the greatest Japanese short story writers. He was born in 1883 in Japan and is often called the “God of the Japanese Short Story.” His writing style is simple, realistic, and deeply psychological.
Shiga Naoya focused mainly on the inner feelings, struggles, and moral conflicts of human beings. His stories do not depend on big events; instead, they show the silent suffering and thoughts of ordinary people. “The Artist” is a fine example of his writing style and is frequently asked about in Class 12 examinations, especially questions related to the writer.
The Artist Summary Class 12
“The Artist” by Shiga Naoya is a short story that presents the inner struggle of a true artist. The story does not have many events or characters, but it focuses deeply on the mind and emotions of an artist who is completely devoted to his art.
The main character of the story is a young painter. He is very serious about his work and believes that art is not just a profession but a way of life. He spends most of his time painting and thinking about art. He does not care much about comfort, money, or social life. His only aim is to create perfect and meaningful art.
Although people around him admire his paintings and praise his talent, the artist himself is never satisfied. He feels that his work lacks depth and truth. This dissatisfaction troubles him deeply. He believes that a real artist must constantly struggle and suffer to reach perfection. According to him, true art cannot be produced easily; it requires pain, experience, and self-sacrifice.
The artist often feels lonely. He separates himself from the ordinary pleasures of life because he thinks that enjoyment and comfort may weaken his artistic spirit. This loneliness is not forced upon him; rather, he chooses it willingly. He feels that only through isolation can he understand himself and his art better.
A very important idea in the story is the artist’s honesty towards his work. He does not want false praise or cheap success. Even when others appreciate his paintings, he feels that they fail to express his true feelings. This shows that he judges himself by very high standards. He wants inner satisfaction rather than public recognition.
The story highlights the conflict between external success and inner satisfaction. The artist understands that fame and appreciation do not necessarily mean true achievement. What matters most to him is whether his art reflects his true self. This inner conflict creates continuous tension in his mind.
Shiga Naoya shows that the life of a true artist is full of pain and struggle. The artist is always questioning himself and his abilities. He believes that without suffering, art becomes shallow. This belief makes his life difficult, but he accepts it because art is more important to him than happiness.
The story does not have a dramatic ending. Instead, it leaves the reader thinking about the nature of art and the sacrifices required to achieve greatness. The artist continues his struggle, fully aware that perfection may never be achieved. Yet, he does not give up. This determination makes him a true artist.
Through this story, Shiga Naoya suggests that true art is born from deep self-awareness and sincerity. An artist must be brave enough to face his weaknesses and honest enough to admit his failures. The painter in the story represents all those artists who silently suffer in their search for truth and beauty.
The Artist Summary Class 12—हिंदी सारांश
“The Artist” जापान के प्रसिद्ध लेखक Shiga Naoya द्वारा लिखी गई एक भावनात्मक और विचारपूर्ण कहानी है। यह कहानी एक सच्चे कलाकार के जीवन, उसकी मानसिक स्थिति और उसकी कला के प्रति पूर्ण समर्पण को दर्शाती है। इस कहानी में घटनाएँ बहुत कम हैं, लेकिन विचार और भावनाएँ बहुत गहरी हैं।
कहानी का मुख्य पात्र एक युवा चित्रकार (Painter) है। वह अपने काम को केवल आजीविका का साधन नहीं मानता, बल्कि उसे जीवन का सबसे बड़ा उद्देश्य समझता है। उसके लिए कला ही सब कुछ है। वह दिन-रात अपनी पेंटिंग के बारे में सोचता रहता है और लगातार मेहनत करता है।
चित्रकार को लोग प्रतिभाशाली मानते हैं। उसकी पेंटिंग की प्रशंसा भी होती है, लेकिन वह स्वयं कभी संतुष्ट नहीं होता। उसे हमेशा लगता है कि उसकी कला में कुछ न कुछ कमी रह गई है। यह असंतोष ही उसकी सबसे बड़ी विशेषता है। वह मानता है कि जब तक कलाकार अपने काम से पूरी तरह संतुष्ट नहीं होगा, तब तक वह सच्चा कलाकार नहीं बन सकता।
कहानी में यह बात स्पष्ट रूप से दिखाई देती है कि कलाकार धन, यश और आराम को कोई महत्व नहीं देता। उसके लिए केवल एक ही लक्ष्य है—सच्ची और श्रेष्ठ कला का निर्माण। वह सामाजिक जीवन से भी दूरी बनाए रखता है, क्योंकि उसे लगता है कि सांसारिक सुख-सुविधाएँ उसकी कला को कमजोर बना सकती हैं।
यह कलाकार अकेलापन पसंद करता है। वह जानबूझकर एकांत जीवन जीता है ताकि वह अपने मन और भावनाओं को गहराई से समझ सके। उसे लगता है कि कला केवल बाहरी सुंदरता से नहीं बनती, बल्कि वह भीतर के संघर्ष और पीड़ा से जन्म लेती है।
कहानी का एक महत्वपूर्ण संदेश यह है कि सच्ची कला के लिए आत्मसंघर्ष और पीड़ा आवश्यक होती है। कलाकार मानता है कि जिसने जीवन के दुखों को नहीं समझा, वह महान कला नहीं रच सकता। इसी सोच के कारण वह मानसिक तनाव और असंतोष से गुजरता रहता है।
जब लोग उसकी प्रशंसा करते हैं, तब भी वह खुश नहीं होता। उसे लगता है कि लोग उसकी कला को सतही रूप से देख रहे हैं; वे उसकी गहराई को नहीं समझते। वह बाहरी प्रशंसा के बजाय आत्मिक संतोष को अधिक महत्व देता है।
शिगा नाओया ने इस कहानी में यह दिखाया है कि कलाकार का सबसे बड़ा संघर्ष बाहरी नहीं, बल्कि भीतरी संघर्ष होता है। कलाकार हमेशा स्वयं से प्रश्न करता रहता है—क्या उसकी कला सच्ची है? क्या वह अपने विचारों और भावनाओं को सही ढंग से व्यक्त कर पा रहा है?
कहानी में कोई नाटकीय मोड़ या रोमांचक घटना नहीं है, लेकिन यही इसकी विशेषता है। यह कहानी हमें सोचने पर मजबूर करती है कि सच्ची सफलता क्या है। क्या लोगों की तालियाँ ही सफलता हैं, या आत्मसंतोष?
यह कहानी यह भी सिखाती है कि हर व्यक्ति को अपने लक्ष्य के प्रति ईमानदार होना चाहिए। जैसे कलाकार अपनी कला से समझौता नहीं करता, वैसे ही हमें भी अपने काम में सच्चाई और लगन रखनी चाहिए।
कहानी के अंत में कलाकार अपने संघर्ष को स्वीकार करता है। वह जानता है कि पूर्णता शायद कभी न मिले, फिर भी वह प्रयास करता रहता है। यही निरंतर प्रयास उसे एक सच्चा कलाकार बनाता है।
इस प्रकार, “The Artist” केवल एक कलाकार की कहानी नहीं है, बल्कि यह हर उस व्यक्ति की कहानी है जो अपने लक्ष्य को ईमानदारी से पाना चाहता है। यह कहानी हमें धैर्य, आत्मसंयम और निरंतर मेहनत का महत्व सिखाती है।
5 Objective Questions of The Artist Summary Class 12
-
Who wrote “The Artist”?
a) Rabindranath Tagore
b) Shiga Naoya
c) Anton Chekhov
d) Leo Tolstoy
Answer: b) Shiga Naoya -
What is the profession of the main character?
a) Writer
b) Teacher
c) Painter
d) Singer
Answer: c) Painter -
What is the main theme of the story?
a) Wealth
b) Love
c) Dedication to art
d) Adventure
Answer: c) Dedication to art -
What does the artist value most?
a) Money
b) Fame
c) True art
d) Comfort
Answer: c) True art -
What feeling dominates the artist’s life?
a) Happiness
b) Satisfaction
c) Inner struggle
d) Pride
Answer: c) Inner struggle
5 Short Questions of The Artist Summary Class 12
-
Who is the main character of “The Artist”?
Answer: A young painter. -
Why is the artist dissatisfied with his work?
Answer: He feels his art is still imperfect. -
What does the story teach us?
Answer: True art requires dedication and honesty. -
What kind of life does the artist live?
Answer: A lonely and struggling life. -
Why is the story important for students?
Answer: It teaches sincerity, patience, and self-discipline.
Conclusion: The Artist Summary Class 12
The artist summary class 12 is an important lesson for Bihar Board students because it teaches valuable life lessons along with literary understanding. Shiga Naoya shows that true success comes from inner honesty and dedication, not from fame or money. The story inspires students to work sincerely toward their goals and to value self-satisfaction over public approval. It is a meaningful and thought-provoking chapter that remains relevant even today.
FAQs –The Artist Summary Class 12
Q1. Who is the writer of “The Artist”?
Answer: The writer of “The Artist” is Shiga Naoya.
Q2. What is the main theme of “The Artist”?
Answer: The main theme of the story is dedication to art and the inner struggle of a true artist.
Q3. Why is the artist not satisfied with his work?
Answer: The artist is not satisfied because he feels that his art is still imperfect and lacks depth.
Q4. What does the artist value more than money and fame?
Answer: The artist values true art and inner satisfaction more than money and fame.
Q5. Why does the artist live a lonely life?
Answer: The artist lives a lonely life to focus completely on his art and to understand himself better.
Bihar Board Class 12 The Artist Question Answer