Work of art
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| + | [[Image:Mona Lisa Smoking a Pipe.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''[[Mona Lisa Smoking a Pipe]]'' by [[Eugène Bataille]]]] | ||
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| + | "‘What is art?’ ‘Art is the sum or totality of [[Work of art|works of art]].’ ‘What is a work of art?’ ‘A work of art is a poem, a painting, a piece of music, a sculpture, a novel. ...’ ‘What is a poem? a painting? a piece of music? a sculpture? a novel? ...’ ‘A poem is ..., a painting is ..., a piece of music is ..., a sculpture is ..., a novel is ...’ It would be natural to assume that, if only we could fill in the gaps in the last line of this dialogue, we should have an answer to one of the most elusive of the traditional problems of human culture: the [[nature of art]]." -- Richard Wollheim, ''[[Art and Its Objects]]'', p.1 | ||
| + | <hr> | ||
| + | "A [[work of art]] is a thing [[Authorial intent|intended]] for regard-as-a-work-of-art: regard in any of the [[art history|ways works of art existing prior to it]] have been correctly regarded." --"[[Defining Art Historically]]", 1979, Jerrold Levinson | ||
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| + | [[Image:Ancient Rome (1757) by Giovanni Paolo Panini.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Ancient Rome (painting)|Ancient Rome]]'' (1757) by [[Giovanni Paolo Panini]]]] | ||
| + | [[Image:A pair of shoes by Van Gogh F255.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''[[A pair of shoes by Vincent van Gogh, Paris, 1886]]''. [[Martin Heidegger]] mentions this particular work in ''[[The Origin of the Work of Art]]'' as an example of a painting that reveals ([[aletheia]]) a whole world.]] | ||
| {{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
| - | In [[fine art]], a '''work of art''' (or '''artwork''' or '''work''') is a [[creation]], such as a [[song]], [[book]], [[print]], [[sculpture]] or a [[painting]], that has been made in order to be a thing of beauty in itself or a [[symbol]]ic statement of meaning, rather than having a practical function. | ||
| - | Since [[modernism]], the field of [[fine art]] has expanded to include [[photography]] (and [[fine art photography]] in particular), [[film]] (and [[art film]] in particular), [[performance art]], [[conceptual art]], and [[video art]]. | + | A '''work of art''', '''artwork''', '''art piece''', '''piece of art''' is an [[aesthetic]] [[Physical object|physical item]] or [[art]]istic creation. Apart from "work of art", which may be used of any work regarded as [[art]] in its widest sense, including works from [[literature]] and music, these terms apply principally to tangible, portable forms of [[Visual arts|visual art]]: |
| + | *An example of [[fine art]], such as a [[painting]] or sculpture | ||
| + | *An object that has been designed specifically for its aesthetic appeal, such as a piece of jewelry | ||
| + | *An object that has been designed for aesthetic appeal as well as functional purpose, as in [[interior design]] and much [[folk art]] | ||
| + | *An object created for principally or entirely functional, religious or other non-aesthetic reasons which has come to be appreciated as art (often later, and/or by [[cultural outsider]]s) | ||
| + | *A non-ephemeral [[photograph]], [[film]] or visual [[computer program]], such as a [[video game]] or [[computer animation]] | ||
| + | *A work of [[installation art]] or [[conceptual art]]. | ||
| + | Used more broadly, the term is less commonly applied to: | ||
| + | *A fine work of [[architecture]] or [[landscape design]] | ||
| + | *A production of live [[performance]], such as [[theater]], [[ballet]], [[opera]], [[performance art]], musical [[concert]] and other [[performing arts]], and other ephemeral, non-tangible creations. | ||
| - | What is perceived as a work of [[art]] differs between cultures and eras and by the meaning of the term '"[[art]]" itself. Up until the 1970s, for example, [[art critic]]s and the general public tended to exclude [[applied art]]s from works of art. | + | This article is concerned with the terms and concept as used in and applied to the [[visual arts]], although other fields such as [[aural]]-[[music]] and written word-[[literature]] have similar issues and philosophies. The terms '''''[[objet d′art]]''''' or '''art object''' are is reserved to describe works of art that are not paintings, prints, drawings or large or medium-sized sculptures, or architecture (e.g. household goods, figurines, etc., some purely aesthetic, some also practical). The term '''''oeuvre''''' is used to describe the complete body of work completed by an artist throughout a career. |
| - | To establish whether a work is a work of art, the concepts of [[artistic merit]] and [[literary merit]] are regularly invoked. | + | ==Definition== |
| + | A ''work of art'' in the visual arts is a physical two- or three- dimensional object that is professionally determined or other wise considered to fulfill a primarily independent [[aesthetic]] function. A singular art object is often seen in the context of a larger [[art movement]] or artistic [[era]], such as: a [[genre]], aesthetic [[convention (norm)|convention]], [[culture]], or regional-national distinction. It can also be seen as an item within an artist's "body of work" or ''oeuvre''. The term is commonly used by: [[museum]] and [[cultural heritage management|cultural heritage]] [[curator]]s, the interested public, the [[Patronage|art patron]]-private [[art collector]] community, and [[art gallery|art galleries]]. | ||
| - | A work of art might be called also an '''objet d'art''' a [[French language|French]] phrase that literally translates to "art object" and means something with perceived [[artistic merit|artistic value]]. | + | Physical objects that document immaterial or [[conceptual art]] works, but do not conform to artistic conventions can be redefined and reclassified as art objects. Some [[Dada]] and [[Neo-Dada]] conceptual and [[Readymades of Marcel Duchamp|readymade]] works have received later inclusion. Also, some [[architectural rendering]]s and [[Architectural model|model]]s of unbuilt projects, such as by [[Vitruvius]], [[Leonardo da Vinci]], [[Frank Lloyd Wright]], and [[Frank Gehry]], are other examples. |
| + | The products of [[environmental design]], depending on intention and execution, can be "works of art" and include: [[land art]], [[site-specific art]], [[architecture]], [[garden]]s, [[landscape architecture]], [[installation art]], [[rock art]], and [[Megalith|megalithic monuments]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Theories== | ||
| + | [[Marcel Duchamp]] critiqued the idea that the work of art should be a unique product of an artist's labour, representational of their technical skill and/or artistic caprice. Theorists have argued that objects and people do not have a constant meaning, but their meanings are fashioned by humans in the context of their culture, as they have the ability to make things mean or signify something. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Distinctions== | ||
| + | :''[[nature of art]]'' | ||
| + | Some [[Art criticism|art theorist]]s and writers have long made a distinction between the [[physical art|physical qualities of an art object]] and its identity-status as an artwork. For example, a painting by [[Rembrandt]] has a physical existence as an "oil painting on canvas" that is separate from its identity as a [[masterpiece]] "work of art" or the artist's [[magnum opus]]. Many works of art are initially denied "museum quality" or [[artistic merit]], and later become accepted and valued in museum and private collections. Works by the [[Impressionists]] and non-representational [[abstract art]]ists are examples. Some, such as the [[Readymades of Marcel Duchamp|"Readymades" of Marcel Duchamp]] including his infamous '''urinal'' "[[Fountain (Duchamp)|Fountain]]'", are later reproduced as "museum quality replicas". | ||
| + | |||
| + | There is an indefinite distinction, for current or historical aesthetic items: between "[[fine art]]" objects made by "[[artist]]s"; and [[folk art]], [[Arts and crafts|craft-work]], or "[[Applied arts|applied art]]" objects made by "first, second, or third-world" [[designer]]s, [[artisan]]s and [[craftsmen|craftspeople]]. Contemporary and archeological [[indigenous art]], [[industrial design]] items in limited or [[mass production]], and places created by [[environmental design]]ers and [[cultural landscape]]s, are some examples. The term has been consistently available for debate, reconsideration, and redefinition. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Further reading== | ||
| + | *[[Richard Wollheim]], ''[[Art and Its Objects]]'', 2nd ed., 1980, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-29706-0. The classic philosophical enquiry into what a work of art is. | ||
| - | ==Oeuvre== | ||
| - | The [[oeuvre]] of an artist is all of their works, or an individual piece. | ||
| == See also == | == See also == | ||
| + | * [[Anti-art]] | ||
| + | * [[Authorial intentionality]] | ||
| + | * [[Creative work]] | ||
| + | * [[Cultural artifact]] | ||
| * [[Fine art]] | * [[Fine art]] | ||
| * [[Cultural artifact]] | * [[Cultural artifact]] | ||
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| * ''[[The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction]]'' | * ''[[The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction]]'' | ||
| * [[Magnum opus]] | * [[Magnum opus]] | ||
| + | * [[Oeuvre]] | ||
| + | * [[Outline of aesthetics]] | ||
| * [[Seminal work]] | * [[Seminal work]] | ||
| * [[Western canon]] | * [[Western canon]] | ||
| + | {{GFDL}} | ||
Revision as of 20:14, 17 April 2018
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"‘What is art?’ ‘Art is the sum or totality of works of art.’ ‘What is a work of art?’ ‘A work of art is a poem, a painting, a piece of music, a sculpture, a novel. ...’ ‘What is a poem? a painting? a piece of music? a sculpture? a novel? ...’ ‘A poem is ..., a painting is ..., a piece of music is ..., a sculpture is ..., a novel is ...’ It would be natural to assume that, if only we could fill in the gaps in the last line of this dialogue, we should have an answer to one of the most elusive of the traditional problems of human culture: the nature of art." -- Richard Wollheim, Art and Its Objects, p.1 "A work of art is a thing intended for regard-as-a-work-of-art: regard in any of the ways works of art existing prior to it have been correctly regarded." --"Defining Art Historically", 1979, Jerrold Levinson |
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A work of art, artwork, art piece, piece of art is an aesthetic physical item or artistic creation. Apart from "work of art", which may be used of any work regarded as art in its widest sense, including works from literature and music, these terms apply principally to tangible, portable forms of visual art:
- An example of fine art, such as a painting or sculpture
- An object that has been designed specifically for its aesthetic appeal, such as a piece of jewelry
- An object that has been designed for aesthetic appeal as well as functional purpose, as in interior design and much folk art
- An object created for principally or entirely functional, religious or other non-aesthetic reasons which has come to be appreciated as art (often later, and/or by cultural outsiders)
- A non-ephemeral photograph, film or visual computer program, such as a video game or computer animation
- A work of installation art or conceptual art.
Used more broadly, the term is less commonly applied to:
- A fine work of architecture or landscape design
- A production of live performance, such as theater, ballet, opera, performance art, musical concert and other performing arts, and other ephemeral, non-tangible creations.
This article is concerned with the terms and concept as used in and applied to the visual arts, although other fields such as aural-music and written word-literature have similar issues and philosophies. The terms objet d′art or art object are is reserved to describe works of art that are not paintings, prints, drawings or large or medium-sized sculptures, or architecture (e.g. household goods, figurines, etc., some purely aesthetic, some also practical). The term oeuvre is used to describe the complete body of work completed by an artist throughout a career.
Contents |
Definition
A work of art in the visual arts is a physical two- or three- dimensional object that is professionally determined or other wise considered to fulfill a primarily independent aesthetic function. A singular art object is often seen in the context of a larger art movement or artistic era, such as: a genre, aesthetic convention, culture, or regional-national distinction. It can also be seen as an item within an artist's "body of work" or oeuvre. The term is commonly used by: museum and cultural heritage curators, the interested public, the art patron-private art collector community, and art galleries.
Physical objects that document immaterial or conceptual art works, but do not conform to artistic conventions can be redefined and reclassified as art objects. Some Dada and Neo-Dada conceptual and readymade works have received later inclusion. Also, some architectural renderings and models of unbuilt projects, such as by Vitruvius, Leonardo da Vinci, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Frank Gehry, are other examples.
The products of environmental design, depending on intention and execution, can be "works of art" and include: land art, site-specific art, architecture, gardens, landscape architecture, installation art, rock art, and megalithic monuments.
Theories
Marcel Duchamp critiqued the idea that the work of art should be a unique product of an artist's labour, representational of their technical skill and/or artistic caprice. Theorists have argued that objects and people do not have a constant meaning, but their meanings are fashioned by humans in the context of their culture, as they have the ability to make things mean or signify something.
Distinctions
Some art theorists and writers have long made a distinction between the physical qualities of an art object and its identity-status as an artwork. For example, a painting by Rembrandt has a physical existence as an "oil painting on canvas" that is separate from its identity as a masterpiece "work of art" or the artist's magnum opus. Many works of art are initially denied "museum quality" or artistic merit, and later become accepted and valued in museum and private collections. Works by the Impressionists and non-representational abstract artists are examples. Some, such as the "Readymades" of Marcel Duchamp including his infamous 'urinal "Fountain'", are later reproduced as "museum quality replicas".
There is an indefinite distinction, for current or historical aesthetic items: between "fine art" objects made by "artists"; and folk art, craft-work, or "applied art" objects made by "first, second, or third-world" designers, artisans and craftspeople. Contemporary and archeological indigenous art, industrial design items in limited or mass production, and places created by environmental designers and cultural landscapes, are some examples. The term has been consistently available for debate, reconsideration, and redefinition.
Further reading
- Richard Wollheim, Art and Its Objects, 2nd ed., 1980, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-29706-0. The classic philosophical enquiry into what a work of art is.
See also
- Anti-art
- Authorial intentionality
- Creative work
- Cultural artifact
- Fine art
- Cultural artifact
- Masterpiece
- Aesthetics
- The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
- Magnum opus
- Oeuvre
- Outline of aesthetics
- Seminal work
- Western canon
