What is a component of every great work of art?

Answer 1

Since every work of art is unique, it would be very difficult to say. However, we can start with some ideas:

1. It must be unique. A work of art must be something that has not been done before. This is partly a test of the imagination of the artist and partly to serve the viewer's desire to be enlightened. To be given and to receive something new.

2. It must show craftsmanship. This does not mean that the art must be perfect by a set definition, but within the parameters set by its own context.

3. It must have meaning, and that meaning must be clear. Even if the meaning is itself a communication of the idea of ambiguity, then that must also be clear, because:

4. It must communicate. And furthermore, the tools to understand its message must be contained within the work itself, as far as possible. When art becomes dated, the context is removed further and further from us, and the rules may need to be sought out by studying the historical context. However, knowing the context, we should be able to unravel the meaning.

5. It must be beautiful. Even if that beauty is terrible or frightening. That means it must touch us on a mysterious level that is beyond mere intellect.

6. It must stimulate and inspire. Art is an intensification, a magnification, of its subject matter, whatever that may be. It must give the viewer more than the thing itself would.

7. It must endure. Great art must stand the test of time. For this reason, it is even more important for the context and the tools for understanding the art to be, either: included in the work, or: so universal that we need no tools beyond the work itself to understand it.

8. It must elevate. It must take us beyond the banal, even if only through stimulating our thoughts to go beyond normal thinking.

9. It must have clarity. If the meaning is not clear, the art has no definite meaning, and has not communicated properly. This draws together many of the previous rules.

10. It must have presence. All art is made out of materials that are taken from the world, but the art object must be an artefact. There isn't room here to go into the many ways of acheiving this, or the implications for found materials (aren't all materials found?)

11. It must be over 50 years old. This is grossly general. However, before this amount of time, it is not possible to stand back and be truly certain of whether it has endured, still has clarity, and is truly great art. A new generation has to also give their blessing, so that its enduring greatness can be verified.

Answer 2

The feelings the artist evokes in the viewer

Answer 3

every great work of art needs to have something that expresses you in it
You have to list what the choices are if you want up to pick from "the following"

Answer 4

No. Great artworks are not necessarily beautiful.