Art appreciation is the understanding and knowledge of the timeless and universal qualities which identify all great art. Art communicates beliefs and expresses ideas about the experience of human beings. Artwork provides important insights into existing and past cultures.
Artists and General Public
Historically, artists viewed arts as a way of expressing their vision or ideas to the society. Art needed to be original, expressive and have qualities that interest artists. The work of art cannot be properly interpreted or understood without reference to the intentions of the artist. Therefore, people referred and tried understand artist’s intention in order to interpret work of an art. Similarly, the general public appreciated artist’s work and always tried to search for the interpretation. People consider artist’s style and pictorial clues to reveal the paintings subject. In addition, general public appreciated art.
Discovery and Appreciation Change
Technology and art have been intrinsically linked through the ages. Art discovery and appreciation has undergone a rebirth due to technological advancement. Artists are using computers to connect and gain inspiration from each other. They are also using digital cameras and Photoshop to edit and create pieces than ever before. Museums are using technology to connect the public with art and help the appreciate artists’ works by keeping online collections and hosting online walkthroughs in their facilities. Technology has also helped artists to market their work and selling their pieces online hence changing the discovery of art completely.
Social and Political Influence
There is a strong relationship between art and social as well as power across historical epochs and culture. Artists are influenced by social and political happenings and decide to address what is missing around them. Artists express their ideas and confront some truths in the society such as sexual assault, moral decadence, gender violence, and racism among others. On the other hand, political happenings such as massacre, violence, injustice, challenging the traditional boundaries and hierarchies imposed on people politically, as well as reacting against oppression hence bringing together the political functions of art influence artists.
