The question “what is art?” is a challenging one, because art means many different things to many people. Throughout history, there have been countless definitions of art: a representation of reality; a way to express ideas or emotions; a tool for social change; a form of entertainment; and so on. While some of these functions may overlap, each has its own distinctive characteristics.
Traditionally, scholars have approached the question of what makes something art by defining its formal properties. For example, in a painting, the artist has a canvas on which to draw and paint, and various tools with which to apply them. The resulting work can be analyzed to determine its form and the techniques used to create it. A painter can also be analyzed for their use of color and light, and the meanings they convey through these features.
Formal analysis has been an important part of the study of art, and there are many resources available to students. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s “Art in Context” series is a popular and widely accessible textbook, as are the Oxford History of Art series and countless other books on art.
But describing an artwork’s formal qualities is only the beginning of the art-criticism process. After that comes interpreting the work, and then ultimately judging it. This is the point at which the judgment/evaluation becomes a two-way transaction between the viewer and the work: the spectator decides whether they like or dislike it, and if they do, why.
During this process, the critic must keep in mind that art is meant to be both objective and subjective: objective because it is a depiction of a real-life object or event, and subjective because it allows the viewer to personalize their own experience of it. Ideally, the critic will be able to separate these two facets and provide a fair, unbiased analysis of the work.
Another issue is that art is constantly evolving, and as new forms of media arise, the question of what constitutes art continues to be debated. For example, some academics argue that digital art and performance art are not really “art” in the sense of a specific medium. Others, however, disagree, arguing that even if certain works fail to fit into established categories, they still have the potential to influence future art.
The role of the art historian is to navigate this ever-changing landscape and try to understand what it is that makes a particular work of art what it is. Often this requires a leap of faith, as historians must be willing to accept that they will often be criticized for defining art in ways that were previously unimagined. But, at the same time, it is important to recognize that this flexibility is what allows us to appreciate and enjoy such a wide variety of works. Smarthistory believes that the brilliant histories of art belong to everyone. Our free digital content unlocks the expertise of hundreds of leading scholars, making the world’s arts more accessible and engaging for people everywhere.