A Lesson In History

Although this piece of history doesn't fully answer my questions, it does provide a certain amount of context that I thought should be share. So this is what I just learned by visiting a number of websites about the history of progressive modernism and "Art for Art's Sake." 

Progressive modernism came to dominate the art scene in Europe by the early 20th century. In contrast to the progressive modernists, conservative modernists presented images that reflected conservative moral values, virtuous behavior, and offered inspiring Christian sentiment. In contrast to conservative modernism, progressive modernism adopted a somewhat hostile position towards society and its established institutions—kind of ‘politically liberal’ in its support of freedom of expression and demands of equality. The practice of artistic freedom became fundamental to progressive modernism. In his editorials, the acclaimed French novelist and critic, Théophile Gautier, believed the idea that art should be independent, and promoted the slogan ‘l’art pour l’art.’ He stated that art should be produced not for the public’s sake, but for art’s sake. Art for Art’s Sake was a call for art’s freedom from the demands of tyranny of meaning and purpose. From a progressive modernist’s point of view, it was a further exercise of freedom. This ‘purely visual’ characteristic of art made it completely separate from the everyday world of social and political life. In the hands of the conservative establishment, formalism became a very effective instrument of control over disruptive art. Many of the art movements spawned in the first half of the 20th century can be seen as various attempts to break the formalist grip on progressive modernism.

So how does it relate to Does the intent of the artist matter? It doesn't directly. But it is interesting to see and to understand that there are artists who appreciate the notion of Art for Art's Sake—that there doesn't necessarily have to be a message in the art. So it's definitely one answer to Is art created for the sole purpose of art itself? The answer being yes.