As to the meaning of the artist, often they don't know it themselves. Often they just make something to express an inner idea they don't have words for. Often they don't know what it means. Sometimes they are hoping for insights from an audience.
As an Artist myself (and also, knowing many other artists) ..I dont agree with that.
Countless artists works, are in fact, very well planned out... with regards to both Composition,
and their intended Meanings.
If you are speaking about so called "Modern Art" ...that stuff is largely a scam, to Launder large sums of Money.
At best, there are some randomly modern art pieces, that are just pleasing to the eye.. that have Zero intention
at all. (And really... Whos going to interpret paint splashes, as having some sort of deep inner meaning?!)
Are there cases of actual pieces where the artist had zero story to tell, and the items in the painting could be
interpreted as various stories? Sure... but, IMO, such creations are rare, compared to Intentionally driven
art.
Now... There are some artists out there, that intentionally hide things within their works, and they refuse to
reveal the true intended meanings, for whatever reasons they have for doing so. Some of them, are
cultists.. and it relates to secret teachings / meanings...etc.
to express an inner idea they don't have words for
Who doesnt have words to describe something? Other than a person with a limited vocabulary...
When you paint a facial expression... that very expression, can be Happy, Sad, Somber, Angry...etc.
As they say... A Picture is worth a Thousand Words. Its a way to express things without having to
use language... but... that said... anyone with language can describe what they are seeing... and
what they are feeling from seeing it. Such as, for example.. seeing a painting of a person being
impaled via "Scorpions" Rope Dart weapon.
Music is actually far more difficult and abstract, to describe...IMO. I mean, how do you describe
the wailing riffs of Van Halens guitar? Or the ever changing landscape of a Classical Orchestral piece?
Yes, you can say that parts of musical pieces could be described as: Aggressive, Fast, cheerful, heavy, sad,
ethereal, magical.. but in total... there are certain emotions that you "Feel", that cant be completely put
into words.
Where as with a painting, you can see, and easily describe: "Woman petting a Cat, as the sun is setting,
on the porch". And all of the related feelings and descriptions, related to this very normal human event.
We know how such a thing would feel (as long as you are not a cat hater, or had never petted a single
animal in your life). But with music... it has no exacting relation to anything to tie it into. Its very
abstract... and yet... can easily represent certain ranges and ways of feeling.