The word “art” has been used for many centuries to describe the creative expressions of human imagination. Artists, both men and women, have explored the power of art to communicate a wide variety of ideas to their audiences. Artworks can range from paintings and sculptures to dance, film, and music. The creation of these works of art requires a lot of skill and effort, but they can also be quite lucrative for the artists themselves. While a number of different theories have been developed to explain the meaning of art, no clear definition exists. However, some general features can be identified in artworks.
For some time, it was believed that a work of art must be an object created by a particular type of artist (e.g., a painter, sculptor, or photographer). Several artistic movements, such as Marcel Duchamp’s readymade Fountain (Fountain), a brass and porcelain urinal signed R Mutt, have dispelled this idea. This has led to a broader definition of art that includes non-objects such as performances, installation art, and conceptual art.
A few recent scholars have attempted to give a more definitive definition of art. One approach, dubbed neo-institutionalism, defines an artwork as an institution that functions to present the “deepest interests of civilization” in a sensuous manner. It is possible to find a great deal of agreement with this description of an artwork, but there are a few important criticisms of it.
Another approach, called historical narrativism, attempts to provide a more objective, formal definition of an artwork. This definition asserts that an artwork is a candidate for inclusion in an art history only if it has (1) a true historical narrative, (2) internal historic relations with other acknowledged artworks, and (3) a live artistic motivation.
Other approaches have sought to clarify the relationship between a work and its audience. Some theorists have suggested that art evokes emotions in the viewer because of its ability to express a unique perspective on life, while others believe that a work of art is more than just a representation of an image or scene.
Still, other theorists have argued that a work of art is essentially what it is because of the way the artist perceives and creates it. For example, a painting might be considered a work of art because the artist sees beauty in its brushstrokes and colors. This view of art is based on the assumption that an artwork is a creative product of human activity, in contrast to natural products which are purely mechanical and without creativity. This type of understanding of an artwork is a form of anthropocentric thinking and it has been criticized by other theorists. The use of this type of reasoning may be harmful in the long run, since it can lead to a narrow, anthropocentric definition of an artwork. In addition, it is also possible that a work of art is simply beautiful or emotionally moving and does not need to have a definite, predetermined meaning.