GE 105 (Art Appreciation)

Lesson 1: What is Art?

There is no one universal definition of art though there is a general consensus that art is
the conscious creation of something beautiful or meaningful using skill and imagination. The
definition and perceived value of works of art have changed throughout history and in different
cultures.
Etymology
The term “art” is related to the Latin word “ars” meaning, art, skill, or craft. The first
known use of the word comes from the 13 th-century manuscripts. However, the word art and its
many variants (artem, eart, etc.) have probably existed since the founding of Rome.
Philosophy of Art
The definition of art has been debated for centuries among philosophers. “What is art?” is the
most basic question in the philosophy of aesthetics, which really means, “how do we determine
what is defined as art?” This implies two subtexts: the essential nature of art, and its social
importance (or lack of it). The definition of art has generally fallen into three categories:
representation, expression, and form.
 Art as Representation: Mimesis. Plato first developed the idea of art as “mimesis,”
which, in Greek, means copying or imitation. For this reason, the primary meaning of art
was, for centuries, defined as the representation or replication of something that is
beautiful or meaningful. Until roughly the end of the eighteenth century, a work of art
was valued on the basis of how faithfully it replicated its subject. This definition of “good
art” has a profound impact on modern and contemporary artists: as Gordon Graham
writes, “It leads people to place a high value on very lifelike portraits such as those by
great masters- Michaelangelo, Rubens, Velasquez and so on-- and to raise questions
about the value of ‘modern’ art-- the cubist distortions of Picasso, the surrealist figures of
Joan Miro, the abstracts of Kadinsky or the ‘action’ paintings of Jackson Pollock.” While
representational art still exists today, it is no longer the only measure of value.

 Art as Expression of Emotional Content. Expression became important during the

Romantic Movement with artwork expressing a definite feeling, as in the sublime or
dramatic. Audience response was important, for the artwork was intended to evoke an
emotional response. This definition holds true today, as artists look to connect with and
evoke responses from their viewers.

 Art as Form. Immanuel Kant was one of the most influential of the early theorists
toward the end of the 18th century. He believed that art should not have a concept but
should be judged only on its formal qualities because the content of a work of art is not of
aesthetic interest. Formal qualities became particularly important when art became more
 abstract in the 20th century and the principles of art and design (balance, rhythm,
harmony, unity) were used to define and assess art.
Today, all three modes of definition come into play in determining what is art, and its
value, depending on the artwork being assessed.
Quotes
There are as many ways to define art as there are people in the universe, and each definition
is influenced by the unique perspective of that person, as well as by their own personality and
character. For example:
 Art evokes the mystery without which the world would not exist. -Rene Magritte
 Art is a discovery and development of elementary principles of nature into beautiful
forms suitable for human use. -Frank Lloyd Wright
 Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time- Thomas Merton
 The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls. -Pablo Picasso
 Art is a human activity consisting in this, that one man consciously, by means of certain
external signs, hands on to others feelings he has lived through, and that others are
infected by these feelings and also experience them. -Leo Tolstoy
Some Comments about Art
 “Art is something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that
expresses important ideas or feelings.” -Merriam Webster online dictionary
 “Art is the concrete representation of our most subtle feelings.” -Agnes Martin
 “Art is a way of recognizing oneself.” -Louise Bourgeois
 “Art wasn’t supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.” -
Rainbow Rowell
 “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” -Edgar Degas
 “Art is to console those who are broken by life.” -Vincent van Gogh