Appreciation of (Visual) Art

Presented by Andrew (with lots of help from Paul and Janis) 1/3/19

What is the point of visual art? Has it changed over the centuries?

How does one appreciate it, ie go beyond the 'I know what I like' stage? Can one learn art appreciation like one does wine appreciation? Is part of it about recognising certain features of the art work: techniques and such-like?

Are there multiple different ways to appreciate art? Do they vary between types of art work?

Goya - dark, moody paintings.

Turner - sublime, treacherous seascapes

Dégas shimmering ballerinas

Toulouse Lautrec's ballerinas

Bruegel's busy village scenes

Bosch's "Garden of Earthly Delights"

How does one appreciate Duchamp's "Fountain"? Does one appreciate it, or does one just think 'what a clever fellow, to make such a perspicacious point'?

Pre-perspective pictures (medieval).

Modern shock pieces like Damien Hirst's half cow in formalin "Mother and Child Divided".

Almost everybody loves Monet and Renoir. How should/can we appreciate those paintings? Leave them on the wall to look pretty? Sit and stare at them, losing ourselves in their depths?

How do paint texture and visible brush strokes contribute to the art?

What does a painting do that a photograph can't, or doesn't usually?

What does it mean for a portrait painting to really 'capture' somebody?

Are the issues different for sculpture than for 2D media? How?

We could talk about favourite art works and why we like them. If you are coming and would like to do that, please send a link to an image of the work you'd like to discuss. Given enough notice, we'll collate them so that they can be displayed on a TV to facilitate discussion.