What Makes Something Fine Art?

Fine art is something that is created purely for the sake of art, and not for a specific function or commercial use.  In this article, you will explore the world of fine art, from its beginnings to the Renaissance.

When you make something that is an expression, for contemplation or communication, it is fine art. Fine art can be uplifting or thought provoking. It is not for commercial (advertising or illustrations) or decorative use, it is more than that. Fine art is judged by its beauty and effect, its portrayal of a concept.

Disciplines that can result in the creation of fine art include:

• Painting
• Drawing
• Sculpting
• Weaving
• Dance
• Music
• Theater
• Architecture
• Photography
• Printmaking

Examples of Fine Art

Looking at the progression of art through the ages can give up a perspective on the history of fine art: 

• Before 10,000 BC - The Stone Age or the Paleolithic period - During this time there were decorated objects and figurines made from clay, stone, or bone. Cave paintings were drawn with minerals, charcoal, bone meal, or ochre, mixed into fat, water, blood, or tree sap.
• Up to 8000 BC - Middle Stone Age or the Mesolithic period - Pottery was made but not decorated so it was functional. Rock paintings were common and figurines were rare.
• 8000 BC to 3000 BC - Neolithic (new stone) age - This era saw weaving, some architecture (megaliths), and pictographs (beginnings of writing). Statuettes made a comeback and were made from clay and then baked. Painting became decorative for walls and pottery.
• 2500 BC to 800 BC - Bronze Age - They decorated helmets, armor, and swords and ceramic designs were more refined. There were murals, pyramids, pottery, sculpture, and more advanced stone and metal working.
• 750 BC to 50 BC - Iron Age - Sculpture came into its own, especially in Greece.  Much more art was made because of the widespread use of iron and tools made of iron.

At this point, every civilization on earth was developing its own brand of art. Let’s look at the major trends in Europe:

• 400 to 1400 - Medieval era - This era goes all the way to the Renaissance and encompasses the Romanesque and Gothic styles of art. Art was costly at the beginning of the medieval era, so the Church and wealthy individuals commissioned most of the art. Sometimes you get the impression that most of the art work was done for the church; but the fact is that the church preserved most of theirs while the art work owned by private parties is more difficult to find. Architecture during this time had sturdy buildings with arcading (a series of arches supported by columns), flying buttresses, ribbed vaults, and pointed arches.   
• 1400 to 1600 - Renaissance era - The Renaissance era started in Tuscany, Italy. It was a return to classic lines and saw art reflect nature and the human body. There was an emphasis on proportion, line, perception, and symmetry. Architecture saw columns, niches, semi-circular arches, domes, and lintels.

Perspectives on Fine Art

Fine art is very hard to define since it deals with expression and feelings. Here are some quotes by artists and quotes about art which can help you to see how others have defined art in the past:

• True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist. - Albert Einstein  
• The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. - Aristotle
• The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude. - Friedrich Nietzsche 
• I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for. - Georgia O’Keeffe 
• Drawing is like making an expressive gesture with the advantage of permanence. - Henri Matisse 
• A man paints with his brains and not with his hands. - Michelangelo 
• A picture is worth a thousand words. - Napoleon Bonaparte
• Life imitates art far more than art imitates life. - Oscar Wilde
• Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. - Pablo Picasso 
• Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. - Thomas Merton 
• If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. - Vincent Van Gogh

In summary, fine art is judged by its beauty and effect, its portrayal of a concept.