Learn how to engage with Art.

In todays world we run from one thing to another, performing a routine to tick off and show-off. The art world is no exception. Blockbuster exhibitions in museums, social gatherings at international art fairs, selfies at gallery openings or a glass of bubbly at the art academy’s open day - the art world became a lot more inclusive and accessible.

Yet the connection to art seems more dfficult than ever.

We look at the label next to the work longer than the work itself. The best case is we know something about the potentially famous origin, nod about it to ourselves and move on. The worst case is we dont know the name on the label and judge the work as low quality because we dont know the «brand» and fail to connect.

Art is every day everywhere, sometimes so complicated that it doesn’t allow connection or shown in an environment that is so distracting we loose focus. Therefor it is more important than ever to really start engaging with art.

When I went to university to study art history we always took a lot of time just looking and describing, learning to describe neutrally what we see. We went to the museum and took one hour per piece. First, we fully described a piece of art. Medium? Technique? What do we see ? Topic? Colours? Details? How is the artwork made? What’s the quality? What do I feel when I look at it?

Then, we started analysing: When, where and why was it made? What is the (historical) context? What could have been the intention of making it? And only then we were asking who made it? What do we know about the artist or the origin?

"Art history is the history about works not about names."

The more we look at art we educate our preferences and open-up our minds. We develop connaisseurship and taste. We listen to ourselves and find out what we like and why we like it. The more we look at art within one specific theme we train our eye and brain to distinguish an ok from an excellent quality. We establish «fair» judgement while gaining overall appreciation for the variety of arts.

To learn seeing art is the basic strategy to protect yourself from investing badly. Art professionals differentiate between «wall power» which is referred to pieces that have a pure physical, almost raw power and «staying power» which is referred to artworks which have the power to capture the viewer’s attraction on the long run.

A solid education will in the end always make the most satisfiying acquisition by being able to detect wall power and choosing staying power over it.

Get Inspired

To keep up with your goal to become an art connaisseur ask us for assistance. We can advise you with 1:1 musuem, gallery or fair visits, handpicked literature and recommended exhibitions.

Get in touch with Christina today!