While contemporary perceptions of fine art may differ, the historical origin of the term provides insight into what it means. The concept of art being created for art’s sake was a result of artists becoming increasingly inclined towards using art as a form of liberal expression in the 19th century, rather than representing and documenting cultural and historical events.
The phrase fine art complemented this notion by differentiating the work of artists who used a creative expression from artists whose works consisted of objects that served utilitarian purposes and fell into the category of decorative art or craft.
Historical Connotations
Fine art historically encompassed poetry, music, architecture, sculpture, and painting. Especially when dealing with sculpture and painting, fine artworks are primarily created from the innate need to express artistically and for aesthetic value. Some of the prominent and famous works of art that range from the Mona Lisa to the Statue of David are not technically regarded as a fine art since patrons have commissioned the works.
Detachment from Functionality
The art movement of the 19th century focused on being sublime and beautiful instead of past classical structures. Artists and their artworks aimed to be detached from creating functional works. Initial fine artworks used mood and color as ways to convey abstract scenes, which was not a practice that was widely accepted within artistic circles during that period.
Broader Concepts of Art
With the introduction of modernism, art was becoming less about beauty and the yardstick for refined or good taste. Focus shifted to challenging more concepts of art. In the midst of this shift, the emergence of what was known as the avant-garde movement occurred. This prioritized intellectual purpose and concept rather than aesthetics. Click here for Mac Fine Art.
Modern artworks by well-known artists such as Vincent van Gogh conform to the fine art definition by expressing the artist’s true intention without being restricted by patrons. The definition of art has currently broadened in order to include many more categories like printmaking, conceptual art, photography, and film.
Conceptual Art
Conceptual art consists of the ideas or concepts in the art that take precedence over material concerns and traditional aesthetics. The advent of the term was in reference to a focused and stringent practice or art based on ideas and usually defied conventional visual criteria that were linked to the presentation of visual arts as text. It has developed as the preferred description of any form of contemporary art that is not restrained by the conventional skills of sculpture and painting.
Poetry
Poetry is literature that utilizes rhythmic and aesthetic language qualities. These include sound symbolism that evokes meaning in place of or in addition to apparent meaning.
Dance
Dance refers to moving the body often in a rhythmic way to music. It can be presented in a performance or spiritual setting, used as a form of social interaction and expression. Dance also describes nonverbal communication methods, motion, and musical genres.
Film
A film is an art form that consists of motion pictures. Images from the world are recorded with cameras or can be created by using special effects or animation techniques.
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Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
