pathos

Pathos, originating from the Greek word for "experience" or "emotion," refers to the element in art that evokes feelings of compassion, pity, or sympathy in the audience. While art was once seen as imitation, the theory that art is expression has become prominent. This view suggests that art reflects the artist's inner state rather than just the external world.12

The term "expression" in art can be ambiguous, referring to both the process of creation and the resulting work. When applied to a work of art, such as a painting or music, it means that the artwork itself possesses qualities that convey human moods or feelings. For example, a painting might be described as calm, or a melody as sad, due to certain inherent qualities within the artwork that are analogous to human emotional states. Color plays a significant role in this, with its arrangement and interplay capable of communicating mood and creating harmony or tension.23