Artwork is a term used to describe any object or piece of work that is created for aesthetic reasons (as opposed to the functional, religious or other non-aesthetic purposes found in many jewellery pieces, some ceramics and folk art). Artwork is an important cultural feature of most cultures. It is a form of expression, as well as a vehicle for the transmission of values and beliefs. The nature of art and related concepts are explored in a branch of philosophy called aesthetics.
The definition of artwork varies greatly from culture to culture, and is often in flux as new trends emerge. The early modern period, for example, saw the rise of cubism and abstract painting, which altered the artistic landscape by making it less reliant on ornamentation and more focused on the depiction of truth to reality. The 20th century brought pop art and street art, which further redefined what makes a piece of artwork.
A number of philosophers have attempted to define what art is, and some have come up with very different approaches. One of the most common is to argue that there are a set of properties that all artworks must possess in order to qualify as art. These typically include representational, expressive and formal properties.
Other scholars have proposed more complex criteria that attempt to capture the essence of an artwork. These may include a focus on the creative process, the fact that an artwork is created by a human rather than a machine, and the way in which a work of art can inspire emotions or ideas in the viewer.
It is also worth noting that while most artworks are made for the purpose of being admired for their beauty, they serve ritualistic and symbolic functions in many cultures. For example, paintings of famous events from a culture’s history can become iconic images that are associated with the culture, and which serve as a focal point for discussions about that culture.
For example, the painting Guernica by Pablo Picasso is widely regarded as an emblem of the Spanish Civil War and a symbol for justice and accountability. Other artworks, such as Amrita Sher-Gil’s realistic paintings of rural Indian life, are also viewed by some as embodying certain values or as serving as a springboard from which the cosmological relationship of a particular culture can be understood.
In the digital age, the concept of an artwork is evolving to include more and more forms of expression. For instance, some digital art is designed to be interactive or immersive. This type of art is often referred to as installation art.
The scale and format of an artwork can have a significant impact on how it is perceived by the viewer. Some examples of this are works that explore movement and capture the sense of things being about to change or topple, or work that uses dynamic viewpoints and serial vision.