How do we decide what’s valuable? Do we judge by the price tag or is there something more to it? Art has been a source of controversy since it was first created and has been the subject of many debates about what makes it valuable. This article delves into the complex topics of aesthetics, beauty, and value in order to answer the age-old question: what makes art valuable?
What Is Aesthetic Value?
Aesthetics, the study of beauty and taste, has played a huge role in art for centuries. It is essentially the philosophy of beauty and how it affects people’s perception of value. Generally, something is considered aesthetically pleasing when it is visually attractive and emotionally evocative. Famous art theorist Immanuel Kant put forward the idea that aesthetic value is based on a sort of universal standard, that something can be appreciated by everyone regardless of culture or time. He believed that aesthetic judgment was based on a sort of objective beauty, as opposed to subjective opinion.
Art theorist Clive Bell expanded on this idea and coined the term “significant form.” Bell suggested that certain elements within a work of art, such as line, form, and color, have the power to generate emotion in the viewer. This, he argued, is what makes the work of art aesthetically valuable.
“A work of art is aesthetically valuable when it has significant form.”
Clive Bell
Although there is still debate about this idea, the notion that something must have “significant form” in order to have aesthetic value is widely accepted by the art world.
What is Cultural Value?
Cultural value is another key factor when it comes to art. The culture in which a work of art is created and its historical context will impact its perception and value. For instance, a work of art from a famous artist from the Renaissance period will often fetch a higher price than a work from an unknown artist from the same period. Similarly, a piece of artwork from a traditional culture may be more valued than one from a modern culture.
Cultural value can also be determined by how an artwork has influenced the wider culture. For example, the works of late artist Vincent Van Gogh have had a huge impact on the art world and are considered culturally significant. As a result, his works are highly valued and often fetch a high price.
What is Contextual Value?
Contextual value can also be used to measure the value of a work of art. This type of value is based on the context in which the art was created, such as the materials used, and the time period. For example, a painting created in 17th century Italy will likely have a higher value than one created in 21st century America. This is because the materials used to create the painting, such as the paint, canvas, and brushes, are less available today than they were centuries ago. This scarcity, combined with the difficulty of replicating the same quality that was achieved hundreds of years ago, results in a higher value for the artwork.
What Is Economic Value?
Economic value is perhaps the most direct factor when it comes to determining the value of a work of art. This value is based on the willing exchange of money for the work of art. Supply and demand is the main factor here, as the higher the demand for a certain artist’s works, the higher the market value for that artwork.
What is interesting about economic value is that it can be artificially inflated, or indeed deflated, depending on the market. For instance, if a particular artist’s work is deemed fashionable or in-demand, then their artwork can increase in value quickly as demand increases. Alternatively, if a certain artist falls out of favour, then the value of their work can decrease accordingly.
The Value of Art
The value of art is ultimately determined by a combination of aesthetic, cultural, contextual, and economic value. Aesthetics is based on the emotion it conjures in the viewer; cultural value looks at the culture in which the art was created and the impact it has had on wider culture, while contextual value is determined by the time and materials used to create it; and economic value is based on the market demand for the artist’s work.
Ultimately, art is valuable because of the emotional, cultural, and economic impact it has on society. Its ability to evoke emotion and spark conversations and debates makes it an integral part of our cultural fabric, one that will always remain valued.
Conclusion
The debate over what makes art valuable is complex and ever-evolving. Even though there is still much to learn about the artwork itself, we can be sure of one thing—that the beauty and emotional power of a work of art are inextricably linked to its value.
This article has explored the concept of aesthetic, cultural, contextual, and economic value and how these factors come together to create an artwork’s worth. The debate over what is valuable in art is a continuous one—and one that is sure to spark more conversation in the future.
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