At the most basic level, art is a human instinct for balance, harmony and rhythm. It is a means of internalizing and enjoying the world outside oneself, not just the physical world (which science seeks to do), but also the world of society and spiritual experience.
It is a means to explore and question accepted values, of expressing the imagination in non-grammatical ways that do not rely on the strict rules of language. It is a tool of communication and collaboration, not just between artist and viewer, but also among artists. As such, it is a vehicle for social and political change, as well as individual expression of the self.
In the modern era, new art trends and philosophies began to emerge that challenged traditional definitions of what was or wasn’t art. The rise of abstract art, minimalism and other movements sought to express concepts through a variety of media and techniques. Often, these new artistic ideas were baffling to audiences used to the more recognizable forms of art such as painting and sculpture.
These new art forms and philosophies fueled a great interest in understanding the concept of art itself. This led to the development of a school of thought called “art history.” Art historians are trained to use various methods to analyze and interpret artworks. They are also taught to look at the history of a work in order to gain a deeper appreciation of it.
While the goal of art history is not to understand the meaning of a particular piece of artwork, it helps to provide clues about its context and purpose in a culture. Using these clues, it is possible to determine whether or not a work of art actually expresses the element of truth that Heidegger spoke of.
The most important criteria for determining whether something is truly a work of art is its ability to spread feelings (tenderness, pleasure, humor, or whatever) from person to person. This can be done through a number of means such as dance, music and writing, but the most successful art is the kind that can reach beyond its immediate audience and infect all those that see it or hear it.
The easiest way to begin learning about art is through the numerous art history books available on the subject. The simplest are those from a series by Sister Wendy Beckett (1930-2018) which are written for the general reader and introduce major artworks in a straightforward and accessible manner. The Oxford History of Art series is a bit more sophisticated, but its titles are often found in local libraries and secondhand bookshops too. Both series are incredibly comprehensive and include an introduction to art in prehistoric times through to the present day. They are also easy to read and contain beautiful illustrations. The most famous of these secular art history books is probably The Story of Painting, which describes the evolution of different styles in painting. It is a great way to learn about art without the snobbishness that can often be associated with art studies.