Lesson 1 What is Art?

DEFINITION OF ART
Art in its broadest sense, is a form of communication. It means whatever the
artist intends it to mean, and this meaning is shaped by the materials, techniques,
and forms it makes use of, as well as the ideas and feelings it creates in its viewers.
Art is an act of expressing feelings, thoughts, and observations.
WAYS OF DEFINING ART
There is no one universal definition of art through there is a conscious
creation of something beautiful and meaningful using skill and imagination. The
definition and perceived value of works of art have changed throughout history in
different cultures.

ETYMOLOGY The term

“art” is related to the Latin word “ars” meaning art, skill or craft. The first
known use of the word comes from 13th century manuscripts. However, the word
“art” and its many variants have probably existed since the founding of Rome.
Philosophy of Art
• Definition of art has been debated for centuries among philosophers
• Aesthetics basic question in philosophy of art
• Two (2) subtexts in art

✓ essential nature of art

✓social importance
The definition of art has generally fallen into 3 categories: representation,
expression, and form
Art as Representation: Mimesis
• Plato first developed the idea of art as "mimesis” which in Greece, means copying
or imitation
• For this reason, the primary meaning of art was, for centuries, defined as the
representation or replication of something that is beautiful or meaningful.
• End of 18th century, a work of art was valued on the basis of how faithfully it
replicated the subject-definition of good art
• Impact on modern & contemporary artists
• Gordon Graham writes “it leads people to place a high value on very lifelike
portraits such those by the great masters Michelangelo, Rubens, Velasquez.
Art as Expression of Emotional Content
• Expression became important during the Romantic Movement (1830-1900)
• Artwork expressing a definite feeling – sublime or dramatic
• Audience response was important for the artwork to evoke an emotional response
• This definition hold true today, as artist look to connect with and evoke responses
from their viewers.
Art as Form
• Art should not have a concept but should be judged only on its formal qualities
because the content of a work of art is not of aesthetic interest.
• Formal qualities became particularly when art became more abstract in the 20th
century
• Principles of art (balance, rhythm, harmony, unity) were used to define and assess
art.
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was one of the most influential theorists toward the
end of the 18th century who came out with the idea. Today three (3) modes of
definition come into play in determining what is art and its value depending on the
artwork being assessed.
History of How Art is Defined According to H.W. Janson author of the
classic art textbook The History of Art…” we cannot escape viewing works of art in
the context of time and circumstance, whether past or present. How indeed could it
be otherwise, so long as art is still being created all around us, opening our eyes
almost daily to new experience and thus forcing us to adjust our sights?”
• 11th-17th century, the definition of art was anything done with skill as the result of
knowledge and practice
• 18th century Romantic Period emphasis on science, empirical evidence and
rational thought, created in the pursuit of beauty and expression of emotions
• 1850, the Avant-garde art movement began, artist pushed the boundaries of ideas
and creativity and represented innovative approaches to artmaking and definition of
what is art expanded to include the idea of originality of vision.
• the idea of originality in art persists, leading to ever more genres and
manifestations of art, such as digital art, performance art, conceptual art,
environmental art, electronic art, etc.

more genres and manifestations of art, such as digital art, performance art,
conceptual art, environmental art, electronic, etc.
Quotes There are as many ways to define art as there are people in the universe
and each definition is influenced by the unique perspective of that person, as well as
by their own personality and character.
Art evokes the mystery without which the world would not exist RENE MAGRITTE
 Art is a discovery and development of elementary principles of nature into a
beautiful forms suitable for human use. Frank Llyod Wright
• Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. Thomas
Mertin
•The purpose of art is washing the dust of life off our souls. Pablo Picasso
•All art is but imitation of nature. Lucius Annaeus Seneca
•Art is now what you see, but what you make others see. Edgar Degas
•Art is the signature of civilization. Jean Sibelius
•Art is a human activity consisting in this, that one man consciously, by means of
certain external signs, hands on to other feelings he has lived through, and that
others are infected by these feelings and also experience them. Leo Tolstoy