Please help me understand this sentence.

Question

The first was that it gave the artist increased freedom to display technical virtuosity and imagination in his work and thus claim the status of a professional man — more equal to the patron — than could the artisan. From this position he could take a more active role in determining taste and could pretend an autonomy for his art, *and by implication all 'art'*, which increasingly occluded its social and economic context.

I couldn't figure out the meaning of the phrase, "and by implication all 'art". Does it mean that "and by implication all art, people can pretend an autonomy for all art? And I don't know why the author quote the word art, does it mean something other than art?

And I think "which increasingly occluded its social and economic context" refers to "autonomy". Do I understand correctly?

Thanks a lot!

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

"art" implies that although the creator calls the object "art," others might consider it quite something else, like an eyesore, an ordinary common object, doodling, or scribbles.

AnonymousAnd I think "which increasingly occluded its social and economic context" refers to "autonomy". Do I understand correctly?

It refers to "art."

Janewantslearn · Answer

Hi Alphecca Stars,

Thank you for answering my question.

AlpheccaStarsIt refers to "art."

Do you mean the quoted art in the original context? Or his art and all 'art' ?

And I have another question. "by implication all 'art' ", what does the all art mean in this phrase? Does it mean all his (the artist) 'art' (including something more than art), or does it mean all art in the world?

Thank you very much!

Jane

Anonymous · Answer

Without further context, I interpret this to mean that the "it" in the first sentence - whatever that is - gave the artist, for the first time, freedom to display unprecedented technical mastery in his work, which increased his status to that of a professional man, rather than a mere craftsman ("artisan").  This increased status also gave him the power to influence taste in art, and the power to claim autonomy ("my work stands on its own merit") for any work of his, and, by extension, any work of art (art in general had previously been timid about declaring its autonomy).

AlpheccaStars · Answer

The context is 15th century European art, and that changes the interpretation. Arthur Danto calls this period "the beginning of art." Before that, there were just artisans and their crafts. The painters and sculptors did not sign their work; artistic production was not considered a profession. But that changed. In 1550 Vasari wrote "The Lives of the Artists..." that elevated the profession as well as giving biographies of many artists.

"By implication all 'art'" means all objects that are deemed to be art.

Note: that started a distinction between objects that were designated as "art," and other objects that were not considered "art." In the late 1800's the distinction discriminated against artists that wanted to express themselves in non-traditional ways, the Impressionists. Their paintings were marked on the back side with a big red "R" meaning "Refused." But now their art commands incredible prices at auction houses.
This distinction was further challenged by modern and contemporary artists, notably Duchamp (The Fountain, 1917), Warhol (Brillo Boxes), and Emin (My Bed, 1998).

Janewantslearn · Answer

Hi Alphecca Stars,

Thank you very much for your detailed explanation and references, I get it now.

Please help me understand this sentence.

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