Explore For A Little Inspiration

Felicita Hawes
Nov 10, 2021
6 min read

Updated: Nov 1, 2024

Before you even start a project you always hear, do your research. Meaning...I go exploring! And on 06Nov2021 Denver Art Museum had me at the words free admissions! So I snagged my buddy Clayton who was down to head out to see what this massive artistic hub had to offer.

Date: 06 November 2021

Location: Denver Art Museum

Denver Art Museum & Gombrich

It was time to get out again before being holed up for a week in recovery. As well, being November its time to start thinking about final projects, exams, and group work that is just around the corner! But who's to say you can't have a little fun with it at the same time?

The more enjoyable you make a project is the more you make it yours. Sure, I can't really make of Astrodynamics Space Project too much better. Yet, I do have the liberty being in my German Independent Study Course to do whatever I please. So in order to make this learning experience more productive back last semester I had come to an agreement to study art, it would help me get back to my own creative roots and be a stress reliever, not a stress addition.

As Herr Steeves always says "Kein Stress!" so there is no stress with this. I have the freedom to make a final project whatever I want, as long as it ties in with the course and I can exhibit my German studies as fruitful. The most important part is that I learn something. Which through reading E.H. Gombrich's "Die Geschichte Der Kunst" I've learned quite a bit.

Gombrich has an interesting take on exploring art and its not only historical development but also cultural impacts. Starting from the cave paintings to the grand architectural master pieces of the Italians. Or traversing from western civilizations to the eastern continents. Exploring the way artists created and viewed their works was eye opening and of course I can't say no to a book that has pictures in it. Come on I'm a college student!

Now this is no light read, there were several things I didn't know, no just words, but even the overall theme, but I got it eventually. Art is just art according to Gombrich and the painter is just the painter. Yet the constant question that I still struggle with is what makes a mater piece?

What Makes A Master Piece?

Historically a master piece was determined by a council of members from society. But this didn't happen until the early 13th century. As cities grew and the times changed the church began to have an incredible say in what defined a masterpiece and would commission artists to create pieces on their behalf. However, this isn't just limited to the Anglo-Saxon view. In the Eastern world it was similar, a master was considered a person who had devoted their entire career to creating things. It meant they were the experts of that particular study. This didn't just have to be through art as most view it.

The typical view is through painting. But there are sculptures, themes and forces which drive the transition of art to go from 2-D to 3-D. Back in the day a master piece was constantly be redefined because artists broke the boundaries of what was originally seen as "impossible" or "going against the grain"

Which is why today even in the 21st century defining a master piece is meticulous and difficult to achieve. Joseph L. Goldstein in the Leading Edge Commentary defines a piece of art or science as a master piece as long as it meets three criteria:

The first is that the work is so original that it overwhelms us with power.
Second that it stands the test of time.
Lastly, that it changed the generations of artists or scientists think about their field.

To him "Masterpieces of art and science should be like hooks that capture our imagination."

Now lets narrow down our scope back to the center of the most common form of art, paintings. Alina Livneva gave her take on what a master piece is a master piece is the Virtosu Gallery Art Blog

In her eyes the word "Masterpiece" is the most overused word in the art world. Dubbing something a "masterpiece" helps justify higher prices and signals the quality of the art. She justifies this by relating to two names the art world knows very well, Picasso or Van Gogh and not everything they created is necessarily a masterpiece.

Instead of focusing on the creator and who made the piece, masterpieces make us forget the artists, and instead direct our attention to the artist's works and what it invokes. Yet I would counter that, today most would recognize a work of Picasso or Van Gogh. But it still cannot be denied that it is a master piece because it leaves an impact or is sublime.

DENVER ART MUSEUM

With this in mind I wanted to put it to the test, so in order to go find some master pieces I had to head to an art museum! Dragging my friend Clayton with me we got to see what exhibitions on display. The museum has two buildings, one of which is still sparse and mostly empty. Other than being an entire complicated maze of art pieces we found most of our time was spent at the Native American and Western art exhibit because it was the largest. There I saw the cultural aspects which Gombrich had touched on.

Native American Art & The Wild West

Yet, from many of the interviews and interactive parts of the pieces, some you really had to sit and stare. I couldn't force myself to feel sublime or an emotional attachment because, as one of the artists said, "This is their piece, I need to treat it with the utmost respect." I knew from the basic knowledge that Native Americans value their ties to the land and see several aspects as interconnected. It did make me appreciate the piece more, yet I was still puzzled by the fear that "they will take everything away, this is all we have left." This is likely because I'm not within that culture or realm of understanding. But, that is when the small plaques and descriptions of what the artist is trying to portray helped. Some pieces did invoke sadness but not until after I read those. Some of them it was clear to see the contrast between bright vibrant colors which would usually resemble warmth but were juxtaposed by scenes of sorrow. The one thing I did notice is that they weren't... ever really happy.

1800 European Art

I noticed that with the 1800s European section display too. Not only was the museum dark and had little lighting but none of the faces that I saw never had a smile, perhaps sometimes a very small soft one. But no true smile showing happiness. Some the painting styles was quick blurring together details. Others more defined and layered, the cracks revealing that they really were old. Certain paintings had playful movements and you could see that there was an attempt to be jovial but the bright colors weren't there and instead were masked darker.

Conclusion

Some might disagree with this statement, but not all painting that are master pieces are going to be liked. The classic example of painting a single read dat on a white canvas then sells for thousands. Is it a true master piece or is it now today because we sign and attach our name to a piece? Or do we go with the two definitions above? If a master piece is worth so much, we would determine it to be priceless.

One trip to the Denver Art Museum by no means makes me a "masterful" critic of art pieces. But, I do have the right to decide my own thoughts and the trip was worth it. I got to apply a little bit about what I learned. Perhaps not in the way I intended. It did bring me a new perspective and brought me just a tad closer to completing my final project.

PHOTO DUMP

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