From ArticleWorld

Statue in Izmir, Turkey
Statue in Izmir, Turkey

When art is defined in its broadest terms, it is described as the creativity and/or imagination that is expressed by an individual or group. There are numerous forms of art, although many people feel that art is subjected only to visual or performance art, including music, drawing and painting. Within each form, there are genres that works of art are grouped into. For example, a painting can be categorized as a still life, portrait or landscape.

The notion of what is or isn’t art has been debated for centuries. It involves a deeper connection between artist and audience that can be unpredictable. Where one person looks at a Picasso and sees a masterpiece, another can dismiss the artist’s paintings as primitive.

When dealing with skill and art, there are two things that influence the perception of an artist’s work: the idea and the execution of that idea. Some view "having artistic skills" as being able to display a trained artistic ability or mastery of a particular medium, such as painting or photography. Sometimes an artist may have a great idea and gain praise for the idea and not exactly how they presented it within their medium. Some art critics may dismiss an art piece simply because they were unable to connect to the piece and find meaning within the work. It is not uncommon to hear of artists who were not appreciated during their lifetime, dying poor and alone, only to later gain notoriety after their death: see Rembrandt.


Definition and etymology

The word is derived from Middle English, from Old French, as well as from the Latin ars

As defined by, art is "the conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium."

Different forms of art

Most forms of art usually can be grouped into two main categories: fine arts and applied arts. When dealing with the visual arts; painting, sculpture and architecture are considered fine arts. Applied arts is often used to refer to the design or decoration of functional objects to make them appealing to the eye. This is usually created by designers, artisans or craftspeople. There are many different forms of art to consider, including visual arts and design. Other forms include: decorative arts, performing arts, printmaking and performance art. There are many modern forms of art that are now recognized, such as comics, video art, installation art, graphic design, as well as computer and video games.

Well-Known Artists

There are many well-known artists, who have produced a variety of works that are recognized across the world. Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Leonardo da Vinci painted the mysterious Mona Lisa. Vincent Van Gogh created Starry Night. Other notable artists include Claude Monet, Henri Matisse and Andy Warhol.

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