The Value of Art

Outline and illustrate two reasons to think good art should portray authentically.

Humans have had a desire to represent the world and see these representations dating back to 30,000 years ago (for example, the caves of Lascaux) to this day (e.g. people putting up photographs on websites). Humans praise art for the which it portrays authentically - we praise it for the way it captures scenes, represents people and is true to life. It is argued that, if a painting claims to represent an object and we cannot see that object, then the painting has failed as a painting. Therefore, the ability to portray objects or situations authentically/genuinely is one we value. This is backed up by the fact that most artists spend years developing and perfecting their techniques to gain the ability to portray their works authentically. It also explains why certain real events, such as the Holocaust, or objects such as mutilated bodies by torture, can seem off-limits to art; this is because the horror, terror and wrongness of an event or object stops it becoming art, as it can seem tasteless and disrespectful.

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