There is a phrase that is often heard when discussing art; ‘I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood first began showing their work (the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was a body of 19th Century British painters who rebelled against the strict rules laid down by the followers of Raphael during the 14th and 15th centuries) they were scorned by the ‘learned’ art critics of their day. The art critics (excepting a few brave individuals) ‘Knew what they liked’ and the style of this body of work was new to them, ugly to them and strange. They didn’t understand it - and so they didn’t like it.

 

The same fate befell the Expressionists but today they are hailed, almost universally, as art of the highest calibre. Those who don’t understand art know they like it - because it is familiar and well understood. It is comfortable and friendly. It rarely shocks - but it certainly did once!

 

Constable, that great and much loved, almost overused British artist (his work is on innumerable chocolate box lids and biscuit boxes and mouldering away on fading prints here, there and everywhere) was also ridiculed and derided because, yes, people did not understand his work or the ideas behind his it. Today many feel they know his ‘Hay Wain’ so well that it does not deserve more than the most cursory of glances - yet it really does.

 

So, what then is the best way to broaden one’s appreciation of art? What is the best way to add to the kinds of painting and sculpture that you do like?

 

The answer, of course, is simple - you need to understand the thinking that was going on when the artist produced the work and the culture which he (or she) was working within, representing or rebelling against.

 

That’s it really. You might still not like the work even then, clearly not everything is going to appeal to everyone. But, when you do understand how and why the ‘Dada’ movement began (for instance) with ‘Dada’ being, perhaps, the most impenetrable movement to unravel unaided and yet the easiest to comprehend when you fully appreciate the causes of its birth. you can, at least, appreciate the artists’ message and decide which, if any, of their works or motives you admire, and why.

 

If you do wish to quickly digest a ‘potted’ history of how Art came to be Modern and then how Modern Art gave birth to the Postmodern Pat Bullen-Whatling has prepared two easy to read essays, complete with art illustrations, which answer both those questions.

 

Please click on the titles below to proceed to each essay. It is recommended that they be read in order of appearance to make the progression of art easier to understand.

 

Proceed to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, of course, if you enjoy their content or, indeed, disagree with anything please feel free to let Pat know by clicking on the ‘Contact’ button, above, and emailing her your thoughts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click HERE for next page.

 

 

 

 

This sounds eminently reasonable but there is a counter saying which shoots it out of the water completely.

 

This saying goes something like; ‘No, you only like what you know.’

 

It may sound smug, but there is more to it than that.