Monday, March 9, 2009




I think there is a significant difference between artwork that rejects the aesthetic criteria and artwork that is just plain bad. Art that purposely rejects the aesthetic criteria goes out of its way to not follow the principles of design meanwhile bad artwork doesn’t have to follow the principles but often does. This painting uses many different colors, lines and shapes. It also has a unique texture and many different values. Mana Lisa’s head is also in scale with the rest of the body and in proportion to the background. There is balance and Mana Lisa is emphasized over the rest of the painting. This proves that artwork can be bad whether it follows the aesthetic criteria or not. The other painting may destroy art with the rejection of the aesthetic criteria but it isn’t plain bad like Mana Lisa. It may look bleak and unattractive to the eye but it isn’t purely bad like Mana Lisa. Mana Lisa just shows a lack of skill and precision in art.
To Arya: I agree with the information in your post. Aesthetic criteria may be purposefully rejected but you can still often see these types of paintings in a museum where as the artwork of an infant may contain many things from the aesthetic criteria but is purely bad.

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