Defining Art From Form
Keywords: art and antique collecting, vintage antique, antiques, antique book
“Any work that aspires, however humbly, to the condition of art should carry its justification in every line.” - Joseph Conrad
When you finally decide on a course of action, all the usual psychological blocks are bound to occur. Where shall I begin? Have I a right to make a choice, based on any sensible guides? Is a piece of ceramics a work of art? Is a piece of Tiffany glass? Is a rug designed by Matisse? Should I buy a painting… a print… a drawing?
There is no crystal-clear answer. As I have tried to indicate in foregoing chapters, you are dealing with your own personal reactions, as well as with certain rules and laws which are vague, at best.
One of the first muddles that need clarifying is the sharp line often drawn to set off arts from crafts. I cannot see why these two should be so summarily opposed to each other. How can anybody decide at first blush that a man who has a sense of form, an eye for color, and a definite quest for the beautiful is producing only a vessel - if he spins a lovely pot on his wheel, applies glowing glazes, and fires his work to produce a handsome jar glowing with a jewel-like finish? Yet there are critics and collectors who would dismiss the man’s work with a snobbish shrug that it is a fine example of the potter’s craft… but as a work of art there is no room for it.
Why, I ask, this strange, if fine, distinction? Is it because the jar is intended for functional use and the higherbrows believe such a pragmatic approach precludes it from joining the upper world of “fine arts”?
Let us go back almost 3,000 years to a Greek potter in his workshop as he formed a vessel for oil or wine. The term “vase” is now applied to most of the early Greek ceramic pieces; but their original purpose was functional… for everyday use. On such vases we see indications of an entirely new way of looking at things by the artist. He was no longer hidebound by the old style he had inherited from earlier Egyptian forms. Yet there was still the same regard for a sharp outline and exact symmetry. So vases from this period are not only valuable for their beauty of color, dimension, and proportion; they are esteemed for their obvious role in shaping a new course for the artist to follow as he broke the shackles of a hardened past. Yet it is clear that the objects as originally created had a humble purpose indeed. Such intent has not lessened their artistic validity or value.
Let us go even farther back into history. Museums which own objects from the Sumerian period display them proudly. In the University of Pennsylvania Museum there is a gold cup used by Queen Shu-Bad of Mesopotamia. It has a graceful form, a delicate gold color, and intricate decorative fluting. Obviously it was designed to provide the queen with a drinking vessel. Is it therefore less beautiful than it would have been had it lacked practical purpose?
The same will naturally apply to the pottery tomb figures of the Ming dynasty in China… to T’ang glazed pottery… to the heroic bronze cats and baboons of the Egyptians. Recently I saw a cover design for the bulletin of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, showing a drawing of an Incan Empire Poncho, made about 1500. It was an almost pure design… with cubes of black and white. At the top was a reverse triangle of deep brown. I have seen many paintings of the abstract school which could have hung side by side with this poncho reproduction.
So I say: judge by the results and forget the notion that one can always erect a false fence to separate the beautiful from the functional. If the object is beautiful to you, then it is worthy of your collector’s eye and instincts. This attitude can open up many new fields to you - for example, the folk arts.
Have You Ever Wondered How To Make Your Own Astronomy Telescope? With Our Easy-To-Follow Blueprints You’ll Be Gazing At The Stars In No Time At All.
Click here for FREE online ebook!
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Holding The Runner In Baseball (1)
If the second baseman bluffs a run for the bag, the runner will see him and start for the base. By the same token, if the second baseman doesn't pay any attention to the runner, he gives the runner an opportunity to stretch his lead.
How To Build Various Types Of Huts (2)
If you don't want to wait years until your hut gets roomy, and if you want a shelter that will protect you from the rain, you can erect a pyramid hut.
Figuring Drawing: Practice Makes Perfect (3)
Fill the pages with sketches, using a pencil, a fountain pen, or the newer felt-tip pen. If you use a pencil, don't use an eraser. You are not out to collect neat pads of figure drawings.
Tips For Making Good Food On Any Budget (4)
Never shop for only one meal. If you do, you will lose the fun of glorifying leftovers; and furthermore, should a friend arrive unexpectedly around the dinner hour, you will be torn between finding a way to stretch your meal or, far worse, finding an excuse to exclude a guest.
The Effect Of The RSROA On Roller Skating (5)
There were many more competitors than in the previous year, and ages ranged from six to thirty-six, all competing in dancing, figures, and racing for national titles. At this time the RSROA founded an annual professional school where the country's leading instructors could get together in a group, exchange information, and agree on the standardization of skating and teaching procedure.
Prepare Any Player With Strong Basket Ball Drills (6)
The middle man starts the drill by handing off to either of the two wings. He then goes behind the man to whom he passed. The drill continues until they reach the other end of the floor where they shoot a lay up.
Maturing Wines In Separate Stocks (7)
In this way you will always have a few gallons fermenting, several dozen bottles for use as required and a dozen or so slowly growing into a nice reserve. Then, when the first two bottles put away are a year or two old you may sample them.
How The Paint Color Chart Impresses People That View Your Work (8)
We have finally learned, however, that even if it were possible to grasp all such reasons, workable laws guaranteeing immunity against chromatic discord still could not be devised. In view of the contrary claims of some writers, we offer the following arguments to substantiate our statement.
The Experts Guide To Baseball Training (9)
The elbow of the arm that is now extended across the body should have almost no bend in it and there should be no strain on the arm. This is the arm and hand that guide the bat through the swing.
Launching Your Oil Painting Career (10)
Some beginners choose oil without considering other media because of a reverence for the "genuine oil painting." When they take up painting as a hobby they want to produce "pictures that show the actual brush strokes." Many other amateurs, who would like to work in several media but feel that their time is too limited, select oil after checking with teachers or schools or experimenting on their own.
The Three Most Important Factors When Perfecting Your Golf Swing (11)
Who Else Wants To Be Taken By The Hand And Be Shown Exactly How To Drop 7-10 Strokes From Your Next Round of Golf Instantly... Legally... And Without Even Trying!
The Youthful Powers Of Breakfast (12)
A high-starch breakfast starts you out for the day with your appetite temporarily appeased, yet with your digestive tract laboring under the burden of a lot of gooey food that probably will have you belching before you leave the table.
Tips For Beginning Cooks (13)
2. Read all the way through a recipe first; check to be sure ingredients are at hand. You will save time and achieve better results if you understand, in general terms, what you are going to do before you start to do it.
Topping Off Chinese Meals With Table Wine (14)
My own capacity does not exceed one wine cup of Shaohsing, so I am really not qualified to say much on the art of drinking. Perhaps it is well, for it is a subject in which I suspect our Western friends can give Eastern folk quite a few lessons.
Safety Tips For Fishing On Rowboats And Outboards (15)
15. Always remember this when on the water: If you're careless there can be no tomorrow. Whether You've Been Fishing Since They Invented Hooks, Or Just Starting Out, You'll Be Amazed At What You Can Still Learn About Saltwater Fishing From This 1962 Manuscript!
French Cooking In The Back Room (16)
One Sunday, when we were expecting friends in for lunch, I went to the Marche Saint-Germain to buy some turbot for my filet de turbot a Undienne dish. But Louise, the buxom, good-humored fish vendor from Marseilles, had no turbot that day and I saw nothing on her usually very well stocked stall that could replace the dish I had intended to serve.
The Absolute Beginning Of Absinthe In The US (17)
The drink, which was spelled absinthe in New Orleans liquor advertisements in 1837, when it was apparently first imported from France and Switzerland, was liquor distilled from a large number of various herbs, roots, seeds, leaves, and barks steeped in anise.
Choosing The Right Player For A Basketball Team (18)
He captained the team during his senior year. He had a funny looking side-arm jump shot, but it went through the hoop. That is all you ever strive for; just find someone who can get the ball through the hoop.
Three Misconceptions About Playing Golf Well (19)
Who Else Wants To Be Taken By The Hand And Be Shown Exactly How To Drop 7-10 Strokes From Your Next Round of Golf Instantly... Legally... And Without Even Trying!
Using Watercolor Instead Of Oil (20)
While these early watercolors were used as a means of study from nature for subsequent oils, they came to have all the power contained in the heavier oil medium. Watercolor continues to be a medium that lends itself readily to painting on the spot, and working directly from nature is the most vital part of learning to handle it, aside from the original intention of studying the various aspects of nature.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
World Renown Golfer Reveals Top Secret Free Ways To Learn And Improve Your Golf Game (1)
Keywords: World Renown Golfer Reveals Top Secret Free Ways To Learn And Improve Your Golf Game Golf is a great game, but extremely frustrating at times when you just don`t seem to get a single shot right: slices, hooks, fats abound; drives are too short, too long, too high, too low, too right or too left; those delightful cannon ball like shots are a far off dream, and you don`t know where things have gone wrong.
Learn How To Make Wines So Incredibly Flavorsome No One Will Resist A Second Glass (2)
This means that fermentation has been taking place. You will want to stir the mix twice a day to keep the top layer that consists of seeds and skins, called a must.
Tips On Becoming A Billiard Champion (3)
If you hit it as far to the right or left as the black circle indicates, you will be able to impart enough right or left side for any stroke on the table.
How To Choose A Bow That Can Land You A Prize Buck (4)
Because of the variety of materials used to construct bows and all the varieties of arrows to choose from, picking a bow that`s right for you can be a hard task.
Diving Into Drawing (5)
See that the paper is not too thick or too rough in surface. Nothing harder than a 3B pencil is much use. Get a black Conte crayon or black chalk pencil with the wood round it, for this is the kind of pencil that will give you most satisfaction in sketching.
Some Of The Reasons Why You Should Always Insure Your Diamonds (6)
If you have diamonds that have a high value the best thing to do is to insure them separately. The first thing you want to do is to have them appraised by a reputable appraiser.
The Importance Of Cooking In The Chinese Household (7)
"Good appetite brings happiness" is an old saying worthy of the housewife's attention. To stimulate the appetite is the one object of our culinary art, the knowledge of which enables the housewife to produce dishes so deliciously flavored and so attractively served, that they would tempt even the most fastidious husband.
Fly Fishing The Sport For Any Time Of Year (8)
There are yearly competitions held for fly-fishing all over the world. It has become a very popular sport and many are very serious about their competitions. There are tons of different insects to choose from and many fishermen have found their calling with a particular brand or style.
England's Secret Rhubarb Soup... (9)
-- Carrot Rhubarb Soup -- ~ 1 garlic clove - peeled ~ 1 tablespoon diet margarine - unsalted ~ 1 tablespoon ricotta cheese, part skim milk - optional flavoring ~ 1 teaspoon cinnamon - freshly grated ~ 1 teaspoon olive oil ~ 1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate ~ 1/2 pound rhubarb - cut in 1/2" pieces ~ 1-1/2 pounds carrots - cut in 1/2" dice ~ 1-1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth - low or no fat ~ 2 cups lowfat 1% milk ~ 2 shallots - minced ~ 2 teaspoons chicken broth ~ 3 ounces sourdough bread (6 slices) - cut 1/2 inch thick ~ 6 sprigs fresh chervil - for garish ~ salt and pepper - to taste In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute the shallots in the butter-substitute until soft but not browned, about 3 minutes.
Choosing The Right Skates For Ice-Skating (10)
It is much the same principle as stilt walking; the lower your center of gravity, naturally the easier it is to balance. Therefore it stands to reason that it is easier to learn to skate on the low figure skates than on the high hockey skates.
Finding A Water Source While Ski Camping (11)
Keywords: vermont ski vacation, ski vacation, ski vacation package The ski camper's water problem is much the same as that of the Ancient Mariner, which caused him to lament, "Water, water everywhere, Nor any drop to drink..." The need for water varies greatly.
Some Of The Many Reasons You Should Consider Owning A Battery Free Watch (12)
The technology is so advanced that Seiko holds over 50 patents on it. The watch contains small capacitors that the generator charges. These capacitors can store up to 6 months of power to keep the watch running even if the wearer takes it off.
Why An All Inclusive Honeymoon Vacation Is A Great Idea (13)
With luxurious ocean view rooms and suites, a selection of gourmet restaurants (offering table service and not just buffets), unlimited premium brand beverages, a wide selection of land and water sports, including golf and scuba diving, and roundtrip airport transfers and tipping, these couple's only resorts represent the ultimate luxury all-inclusive honeymoon experience.
Why More People Are Getting Their Own Home Espresso Makers (14)
However, all of this comes with a hefty price tag, as these super machines can cost several thousand dollars. However, it is not necessary to go into debt to purchase a quality espresso coffee maker in order to achieve the eye opener this particular brew can bring.
A Closer Look At How Wine Is Made (15)
In fact nearly all grape juice is nearly colorless. The longer the skins are allowed to soak in the juice, the darker the color of the wine. Believe it or not Champagne is which comes from black grapes is made white by not allowing the skins of the grapes to have any contact with the juice.
Some Tips You Need To Consider When Choosing The Best Men's Athletic Shoes (16)
Make sure you try on both shoes with socks on. Some people's feet are slightly different sizes. When you choose a pair always buy the size of your larger foot.
Family Cruise Vacations - Helping Kids To Keep Well (17)
Seafoods, rich and spicy dishes are the most likely foods that can cause problems. Drinking bottled water may help too. On a family cruise vacation, you need to pack some essentials for kids.
How Do Bowlers Handle Fast And Slow Alleys In Bowling? (18)
So know how and when to adjust your game according to the types of the lanes. Mitch Johnson is a regular writer for www.1-scuba-diving-gear.com. His articles have also appeared on www.goodbiking.info and www.mybikinghub.info
Beginner's Guide To Effective Bowling (19)
There are bowlers today averaging 200 who do not have a good follow-through, or who have too high a backswing or who possess some other fault. But they have learned to incorporate that flaw into their game so well that they are consistent, and their game might fall apart if they at- tempted to change it.
For The Perfect Cup Of Coffee Start With Gourmet Beans (20)
Another thing to take into consideration when producing a great cup of coffee is the uniformity of the grounds. Coffee should be ground evenly through out. This is important because when the water passes over the coffee grinds it only has a small amount of time to take in the flavor of the coffee.