Does Context Make Art More Beautiful?

Those who love art, love to talk about it. The artist’s biography and the circumstances under which a work was created, all this fascinates us. It gives us a sense of connection as if we could participate in a creative process that might otherwise remain unfathomable to us. Our understanding of art becomes more comprehensible and accessible to us. The context in art, and by that I mean the title, the historical background, and the motivations of the artist, can help us place the artwork in a larger context. Therefore, the context seems to be a crucial factor in unleashing the full potential of an artwork. But what happens when we encounter a work of art beyond its context? How much of it really influences how we perceive art? Does it possibly enhance our aesthetic perception? Does the context make art more beautiful or not? These are the questions I would like to explore today. It is undisputed that contextual information shapes our perception, not only in art but in many aspects of our lives. Various studies have already proven this assumption. For example, the same wine tasted better to the test subjects when they believed it was an expensive wine. The additional price information changed the participants’ subjective experience of the wine.(1) Similarly, when viewing art, it has been assumed that the more one knows about a work of art, the more it contributes to a deeper, aesthetic sensation of art. Two studies, however, indicate that this assumption is not quite true. <a href="https://medium.com/@sarahdorweiler/does-context-make-art-more-beautiful-d83e82b4def2">Read More</a>