An artwork is a piece of creative work done by an artist, or group of artists. Artworks may be created using a variety of techniques, from painting and sculpture to photography and installation. They can also be created digitally. Some art works are not tangible, such as performance art or certain conceptual and readymade works. Whether such works can be considered artworks is a question that has been debated in the philosophy of art.
Generally, an artwork is something that has been designed to communicate an idea or emotion, or to inspire thought. The concept of an artwork is a subjective one, and different people will respond differently to the same piece. For example, an artwork might evoke feelings of awe and wonder, or a sense of melancholy and regret. The way in which an artwork evokes a response is called its aesthetics.
Artworks can be created using a wide range of artistic media and techniques, including drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, and printmaking. Many artists, especially modern ones, often combine several of these techniques. The definition of what makes something an artwork is subject to ongoing debate, and there are many theories of art that attempt to account for its nature.
The classical definition of an artwork is that it is a thing characterized by properties such as representational or mimetic properties, expressive or emotive properties, and formal properties. Whether this definition adequately accounts for the facts that we know about art, and whether it is capable of satisfying all of our aesthetic demands, are key questions in the philosophy of art.
In addition to being a form of expression, artworks can serve as a record of human history or culture, and even have a utilitarian purpose. For example, a mural or fresco might illustrate a historical event, or a sculpture might represent the life of a religious figure.
For more information about the history of art, see the articles on history of architecture, history of film, history of music, and history of photography. Also, see the article on the philosophy of art for general discussions about the nature and significance of the arts.
It’s a good idea to study actual artworks whenever possible, rather than just postcard reproductions or prints of them. This will force you to engage with the art on a deeper level and consider details that you might otherwise miss. Also, try to make your own sketches or drawings from an artwork, rather than copying it directly from a photo or book. This will help you learn to recognize the nuances of a particular technique or style. If you can’t access a museum or other art gallery, you can use sites such as Google Images, TinEye, and ArtStack to search for similar artworks. These websites will let you upload a photograph or link to a piece of art and will search for matches or similar pieces. This type of reverse image searching is very useful for identifying lost or stolen artworks.