Where were you when? Stephanie Paige Buffington (c) 2012

This essay is addressed to visual artists who work in all mediums of visual expression:

Have you ever taken an art history course at an institution of higher learning?  If so, then have you ever questioned the analysis of a particular work or works and asked yourself, "How can this analysis be the complete truth, without the input of the artist?"  Specifically, to what I am referring falls within these parameters:  1)  the art analysis occurs posthumous and 2) was the artist intent considered?

I am well aware that in the field of art history to take into account the personal biography of an artist incorporated into the art analysis is considered an irrelevant immoderation.  Let's look at this from another perspective; from that of the artist herself.

I'm interested in the artist biography as a tool, not as a narrative, to gather personal information that later is used as a primary document to include in the analysis. 

I have to go for now, but if this topic is of interest to you, please let me know.

Comments

David A. Vine said…
Truth vs Speculation = Incomplete. You are correct, without knowing at least the range of an artists interests, personality, etc. You have a very incomplete understanding of the artist's work.

However, the specialist art critic may relate the work product to the "art community" and how it is perceived say, within academia, as opposed to solely focusing on the intent of the artist.

Further, without the artist's direct input we may never know what was going through his or her mind before, during, after and much later following the art's debut.

So, I think you have a very valid point in your blog post.
May 27, 2013 at 11:51 AM
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