Analyzing the Value in the Arts - Essay Example

Before discussing how originality in art could be valued, it is important to specify what I would mean by originality itself. In the simplest terms, I would say originality is something new in some way. Based on this definition there is a wide spectrum of what could be termed original or not. It could be based on the norms of the period one is considering or on personal judgment. Having now set the context, let us see how originality in art could be judged. One of the first and perhaps the easiest ways to judge originality is through the concept of imitation.

This relates to the initial question in this discussion. Would I buy an artwork not created by the one who signed it? Would I buy if it was an exact copy? There are four ways this problem can be argued or viewed against. The first is the aesthetic valuation. The artist who copies the original also copies the aesthetic value of the original. Everything that the original artist created or wished to depict has been reproduced and visually offers the exact same aesthetic experience. So, aesthetically speaking, the valuation would be equal.

However, if we have prior knowledge that this work of art was originally created by someone else, historically, the value would be otherwise. The historical value of an “original” Monet would be different from a reproduction. In today’s world when making copies has become much easier through newer mediums such as screening, copies made by the artist himself or herself would hold well on the ethical scale. But if the copy was not sanctioned by the artist, the ethical value would drop. We must remember that the value of originality is a composite: that is, the value of this piece would still remain high on visual and aesthetic grounds but may fall on ethical and historical grounds.

Finally, let us see what the above analysis have an effect on the value of the art piece in monetary terms. An individually created piece of art by Picasso would obviously be priced higher than an imitation. At this point, let us discuss examples in context of the definition of originality as mentioned earlier. When art is mass produced, how would it be valued in terms of its originality? Consider Andy Warhol’s work, Donald Judd’s Team 3, 8, 1968, or any other artist’s mass produced work.

Without the individuality in physical creation it may be argued that the piece of art was produced through a “process” or a factory, was “similar” to earlier work, and therefore not original. However, each copy contains the embodiment of the artist’s expression or individuality. Each copy also completely conveys the mood, message, expression and creativity of the artist. Therefore aesthetically and visually speaking, each copy has the same value. It would hold the same value ethically also since the copies were sanctioned by the artist himself or herself.

So, what then is “new” in each copy of the artists’ work? The “new” is the “genius” or the “creativity” of the artist that carries through each copy which then holds the mark of authenticity. Would it hold the same monetary value as a single piece of work? Perhaps not. A personally signed copy would bring more monetary value without diminishing the artistic value of the mass produced copies.