How Forms in Art Work
Or, how art history blinds itself
Style, the traditional method of classifying art, is rarely mentioned on our website because it has little effect on interpretation. Style may influence individual taste but is unlikely to effect universal judgment. It is one of those aspects of art that is truly cultural and is of no help to the emerging master of another time. What they look for in developing their method are those aspects of the canon that are inherited and which can be seen evolving from one variety to another down through the ages. Great artists share a common understanding of human perception, a deep communion with nature and common ideas that express basic truths. Much of this is communicated through use of similar forms which evolve with modifications from artist to artist. Though some scholars use form to meanstyle, here form always means shape.
© Simon Abrahams. Articles on this site are the copyright of Simon Abrahams. To use copyrighted material in print or other media for purposes beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Websites may link to this page without permission (please do) but may not reproduce the material on their own site without crediting Simon Abrahams and EPPH.