Defining Art: Aesthetics and Philosophies

Aesthetics

The branch of philosophy dealing with beauty, art, and artistic taste--the philosophy of art.

Mimesis

Mimesis = copying or imitation; art as representation or a convincing imitation of reality.

Mimetic or Imitational Theory

A theory that emphasizes art as a representation or imitation of reality.

Good Art Criteria

It is good art if it is beautiful, resembles reality, is captivating, expresses emotion, communicates a message, teaches us about culture or preserves cultural history, teaches us something else, shows us an interesting idea, contains an interesting design, shocks us, prompts us to take action, is controversial, is in a museum, is famous, other say it is good, or it just is.

Fine Art

Art created primarily for aesthetic value and intellectual stimulation rather than for a functional purpose.

Applied Art

Art that is created for a practical purpose, often with a focus on functionality.

Historical Context in Art

Understanding how the historical and cultural background impacts a visual work's content.

Cultural Context in Art

Examining how culture influences the creation and interpretation of visual art.

Artwork Spotlight: Bouguereau's Homer and His Guide

An oil on canvas painting created by William-Adolphe Bouguereau in 1874.

Franz Marc's Fate of the Animals

An artwork created in 1913 that prompts discussion on what makes it good.

Johannes Vermeer's The Milkmaid

A painting from c.1658 that is noted for its realistic depiction of the subject.

Wassily Kandinsky's Squares with Concentric Circles

An artwork from 1913 that raises questions about its aesthetic value.

Realism

An art movement that aims to represent subjects as they appear in everyday life.

Photo-Realism

An art movement that aims to create paintings that resemble high-resolution photographs.

Italian Renaissance

A period of great cultural change and achievement in art, literature, and science in Italy during the 14th to 17th centuries.

Dutch Golden Age

A period in the 17th century known for its wealth and cultural achievements, especially in painting.

Zeuxis and Parhassios

Rival painters from ancient Greece known for their competition in realism and representation in art.

Quote by Zeuxis

I have deceived the birds, but Parhassios has deceived Zeuxis.

Quote by Parhassios

The curtain was the painting.

Artistic Taste

The subjective preference and appreciation of art, which can vary widely among individuals.

Art in a Museum

Art that is recognized and preserved in a museum setting, often considered to have cultural or historical significance.

Controversial Art

Art that provokes strong reactions and debates, often challenging societal norms or values.

Trudy Tran

Natural Symmetry, 2022, Color pencil on paper.

Jennifer Emery

Tribute to the Military, 2022, Acrylic on canvas.

Julianna Wells

Portrait of Tony by the River, 2022, Oil on linen.

Franz Marc

Fate of the Animals, 1913, EXPRESSION.

Emotionalism Theory

Art as an expression of emotional content that draws a response from the viewer.

Associated Art Movements for Fate of the Animals

Expressionism, Propaganda.

Wassily Kandinsky

Squares with Concentric Circles, 1913, FORMAL.

Formalism Theory

Art as form, demonstrating effective use of the elements and principles of design.

Associated Art Movements for Squares with Concentric Circles

Abstract Expressionism, Cubism, Minimalism.

Süleiman the Magnificent

ca. 1555-60.

Fred Fussell

EL DORADO, 2022, Acrylic on canvas.

Harry Averett

Interplanar Chair, 2022, Forged and fabricated steel.

William-Adolphe Bouguereau

Homer and His Guide, 1874, Oil on canvas.

Content

The meaning or meanings associated with an artwork.

Context

The elements that influenced an artwork's creation or the artist, such as when and where the work was made.

Associated Art Movements/Style for Bouguereau

Academic Art, Neoclassicism, Realism.

Valued Genres Ranked for Bouguereau

1 - History, 2 - Portrait, 3 - Genre (daily life), 4 - Landscape, 5 - Still Lifes.

Impressionism

Developed in France during the 1860s-1880s, based on painting outdoors and spontaneously 'on the spot'.

Subjects of Impressionism

Landscapes, scenes of everyday life.

Jacques-Louis David

Napoleon Crossing the Alps, 1801-1805, Oil paint on canvas.

Movement for Bouguereau

Academic Art (Academicism), 1560-1900.

Important Influences for Bouguereau

European art academies, French Académie des Beaux-Arts, Neoclassicism, Romanticism.

Claude Monet

A French painter known for his role in the Impressionist movement.

Woman with a Parasol

A painting by Claude Monet created in 1875, using oil on canvas.

Photography

A medium that became prominent in 1839, influencing the development of Impressionism.

Light

A key element that Impressionists aimed to capture, representing the feeling of the outdoors.

Color

An essential aspect of Impressionist paintings, used to evoke emotions and sensations.

Texture via Brush Strokes

A technique used by Impressionists to create depth and interest in their paintings.

Haystacks (sunset)

A painting by Claude Monet created between 1890-1891, using oil on canvas.

Aesthetic Theories

Frameworks for understanding and evaluating art, including various philosophies.

Mimetic (Imitationalism)

An aesthetic theory that emphasizes imitation of reality in art.

Expressionism/Emotionalism

An aesthetic theory focused on conveying emotions and subjective experiences.

Formalism

An aesthetic theory that values the form and structure of art over content.

Utilitarian

An aesthetic theory emphasizing the utility or usefulness of art.

Communicative

An aesthetic theory that focuses on art as a medium for communicating messages or ideas.

Instrumentalism

An aesthetic theory that aims to inspire thought and action through art.

Institutionalism

An aesthetic theory that values art based on its validation by art institutions.

Minimalist

An aesthetic theory that emphasizes simplicity, usefulness, and clarity in art.

Conceptualism

An aesthetic theory that prioritizes the idea or message over the materials used in art.

Marcel Duchamp, Fountain

A 1917 artwork that challenges traditional definitions of art.

Avant-garde artists

Artists who test the limits of what is considered art.

Art Appreciation

The study of art, its context, and its meaning.

Impression, soleil levant (Impression, Sunrise)

A painting by Claude Monet created in 1872, using oil on canvas.

Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge

A painting by Claude Monet created between 1897-1899, using oil on canvas.

Boulevard Montmartre, Mardi Gras

A painting by Camille Pissarro created in 1897, using oil on canvas.

Boulevard Saint-Germain

An albumen print by Charles Marville created between 1875-1877.

What is Art?

The term 'art' originates from the Latin word ars, meaning 'skill' or 'craft.'

Jeff ***** - Play-Doh

A work created between 1994-2014 using polychromed aluminium, measuring 124 x 152¼ x 137 in (315 x 386.7 x 348 cm).

Art in Museums

It's art if it's in an art museum.

Famous Artists

It's art if it's made by someone famous.

Monetary Value

It's art if it's worth a lot of money.

Three-Dimensional Art

Art can be three-dimensional (3D), like sculptures and ceramics.

Art as Documentation

Art can document and tell stories.

Art as a Moment

Art can document a moment in time.

Recreating Moments

Art can recreate a previous work/moment.

Art as Experience

Art can be gazed upon.

Art as Consumption

Art can be eaten.

Art as Location

Art may be up or down.

Dramatic Art

Art can be dramatic.

Holy Art

Art can be Holy.

Changing Ideals of Beauty

Art demonstrates how ideals of beauty change over time.

Contemporary Ideals of Beauty

Art demonstrates ideals of beauty within our own time.

Art Telling Stories

Art tells stories.

Art Changes Over Time

ART changes over time.

Cultural Variability of Art

Defining art is a challenge because the definition of art varies by culture, region, and time period.

Art

An expression, involving skill, imagination, and media, that moves ideas from the mind into the world.

Romanticism

An art movement in the 18th century that emphasized beauty and the expression of the artist's emotions, reacting against the Enlightenment's focus on science and rational thought.

Avant-Garde

Art that is new, different, exploratory, and ahead of its time.

Fountain

A work by Marcel Duchamp designed as a prank to poke fun at the institution of American avant-garde art, changing the definition of art forever.

Readymades

Artworks created from found objects, exemplified by Marcel Duchamp's Fountain.

Dadaism

An art movement that emerged in the early 20th century, known for its avant-garde approach and rejection of traditional aesthetics.

Social Realism

A branch of realism that focuses on social issues and the lives of everyday people.

Judith Leyster

A Dutch painter known for her skillful self-portraits during the Dutch Golden Age.

Caspar David Friedrich

A German Romantic painter known for his landscapes that glorified nature and spirituality.

Gustave Courbet

A French painter who led the Realism movement and focused on depicting everyday life.

Hubert von Herkomer

A painter known for his works that depicted social issues and the struggles of the working class.

Marcel Duchamp

An artist known for his role in the Dada movement and for creating the concept of readymades.

Bicycle Wheel

A work by Marcel Duchamp that exemplifies the readymade concept, created in 1951.