Fine Art vs. Decorative Arts

Fine species vs. Decorative ArtsFine Art vs. Decorative ArtsWhile the term Fine Art and Decorative Art bothcontain the word art, they are very different in nature. In the strictest sense, Fine Art is considered a visual object with no functional purpose except to be admired and contemplated as an aesthetic object. Decorative Art, however, is also visual and aesthetically pleasing but serves a useful function such as a piece of furniture, tableware, textiles and so on. According to the ansprechbar Etymology Dictionary, the word art came into use as an English word in the 13th century, having been borrowed from the Old French in the 10th century which meant skill as a result of learning or practice. However, in its earlier usage, it can be traced further back because the word Art actually originated from the Latin word Artem (ars) which means work of art, practical skill, a business or a craft. The concept that art means skill continues today and contributes to the ongoing debate regar ding some museum-worthy modern and contemporary art pieces and whether or not they constitute art. An example is Claus Oldenburgsmassive BLT sandwich owned by the prestigiousWhitney Museum in New York. The Whitney considers this art but many traditionalists (who prefer Renoir and the other Masters) do not. The term decorative art can be traced back to Londons Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society, 1888. Fine Art Historically called the visual arts, Fine Art is made by artists and exhibited in art galleries and museums and purchased by art-lovers with deep pockets at auctions at major art houses like Sothebys and Christies. Fine art takes many formats including paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and lithographs, photography and installation art. Starting in the 20th century, due to electronic advances, fine art came to include sound art and digital and video art and is considered to be ephemeral and conceptual in nature. The definition and meaning of Fine Art are constantly evo lving. For example, today many people consider Andy Warhols silkscreened Brillo Boxes as Art and these pieces by the late artist fetch sales in the double-digit millions. Pushing the envelope even more,Italian artist Piero Manzonis Merde Artiste (an artist whose works feature cans of his own fecal matter) creates pieces classified as Fine Art. Decorative Art Decorative Art is also made by artists, but because they are specialized in their craft and need to produce functional art they are widely known as craftsmen and craftswomen. Pieces that fall into the Decorative Art(s) category include a wide range of materials and techniques such as woodworking, metalwork, textiles, and ceramics. Functional objects including candlesticks, furniture, carpets, weavings, pottery, cutlery, and other beautiful but useful objects, are considered part of the Decorative Arts category. Its worth noting that even the world-renown Metropolitan Museum of Art (home to the fruchtwein important Old Maste rs like Rembrandt) has rooms filled with furniture, tapestries, and ancient Grecian urns and bowls. Further Information What is the difference between ?Commercial Art and Fine Art? This question takes a look at Warhols Brillo Boxes mentioned above.