Should blank canvases be hung in museums? For me, the answer is a resounding yes. Those of us who visit art museums have all, at least at one point, seen a work that seems simple and claimed that we could make that ourselves. This could be a painting that appears as only a few messy brushstrokes, or a sculpture that was seemingly made by a child. However, art is far more than what meets the eye.

Modern and abstract art is still real art because art relies on personal connection, which is felt strongly when the concentration of a piece is vague. Because of the personal connection being necessary, scholars and critics typically say that art is subjective. 

Art means different things to different people, and certain pieces speak to certain people for an array of reasons. This is a perfect example of why abstract art is just as valid as the classics. A piece that does not depict any one location, person or event can be taken out of the context it was created in and applied to another. In contrast, Monet’s Woman With a Parasol is objectively centered around a woman holding a parasol. In those kinds of pieces, the intrigue is derived from the details rather than the topic or the way it uniquely resonates.

Furthermore, this debate raises the question of how we should be judging art and artists. Lots of classical and renowned pieces were not considered “good” when they first debuted centuries ago. Starry Night, one of the most famous and critically acclaimed works ever, was initially hated by the public before becoming the legend it is today. 

There is a commonly used phrase saying “no artist is successful until they are dead,” and that is still largely applicable today. We must ask ourselves if what we neglect to appreciate today will someday be timeless and classic.

We have already seen abstract art take off as a legitimate and respectable art form, such as the works of Jackson Pollock, which are largely composed of miscellaneous splashes of paint. His work is appreciated by the public because it is now viewed as deep and sentimental, however there is a large likelihood that if it debuted today, it would simply be brushed off as messy and childish.

For now, remember that just like art, we fit into the context of history, and someday we will look back on the works we now look down on and have nothing but admiration for them.

Thanks for reading and come back soon for the next installment of my art blog, where I talk about all things art, such as art history, impact and review.