When you look “art” up on Google, it is defined as “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.” However, this definition doesn’t clarify much. What is art? What qualifies, and what doesn’t?
According to Georgia O’Keefe, an American painter from the 20th century, art is “filling a space in a beautiful way.” The Swiss painter, Paul Klee, once said, “Art does not reproduce the visible; rather, it makes visible.” And, perhaps most famously, Pablo Picasso remarked, “We all know that art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth.”
Similar to Google’s interpretation of art, these quotes don’t exactly create a clear definition. Many people believe that art requires intent—an intent to create a specific image or evoke a specific emotion. In this belief, Picasso’s words ring true.
On the other hand, we often see that art doesn’t have to be visually appealing or beautiful; it doesn’t have to be nice to look at or even interesting. Over time, this idea has fluctuated, warped, and proved to be a point of debate.
Yet, some argue that art is impossible to define.
What is possible, however, is defining the principles and elements of art. The principles of art include, but are not limited to movement, unity, harmony, variety, balance, contrast, proportion, and pattern. The elements include texture, form, space, shape, color, value, and line. While principles and elements are useful in understanding and describing art, we are still not able to clearly define art in this way.
In fact, when we ask individuals what they believe art is, the answer varies considerably. With every unique person, worldview, and identity comes a new definition of art.
What exactly does all of this mean? No one knows exactly. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder—and so, it seems, is art.
SOURCES
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/57501/27-responses-question-what-art
https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/what-do-we-really-mean-by-art/
https://www.gradedtalon.com/867/pov/is-modern-art-really-that-bad/
https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-arthistory/chapter/what-is-art/