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They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it can be incredibly soothing to be surrounded by artistic creations you enjoy. Fine art is arguably the most beautiful of all types of artwork, but with such variety, is it possible to define what is classed as fine art?
Fine art is defined as something which has been created purely for its beauty and aesthetics. There is no practical function to a piece of fine art, unlike some other categories of artwork. Both modern and contemporary artwork can be classified as fine art.
It may not be something you’ve considered in detail before, but art can be separated into distinct categories. Here’s a closer look at how you can tell whether something is fine art.
Fine art is something which is created purely for its visual content, allowing the artist full range to express their imagination. Fine art is not used for commercial purposes and is appreciated solely for its artistic merit, not its function.
Although it’s possible to tie fine art down to a description, it would be fair to say that the definition is somewhat vague. This is because fine art - like all forms of art - is constantly evolving. Therefore, it is impossible to create a more specific list of what should and shouldn’t be included as fine art.
The intent and purpose of a piece of artwork are what define whether it is classed as fine art. A piece may be beautiful and admired for its aesthetics, but if it was created to convey a commercial message or for a functional purpose, it wouldn’t fall under the umbrella of fine art. Just because fine art is beautiful doesn’t mean that other types of art can’t be enjoyed for their aesthetics too!
So turning to the question of “how do you know if something is fine art?”, ask yourself whether there’s any other purpose than beauty and decorative appeal. All other forms of artwork have some other function aside from just aesthetics. Fine art stands alone in being produced solely for the purpose of creating beauty to a standard which can be recognized by all.
I’m going to delve into the other categories of artwork below, to help emphasize the qualities of fine art.
There were originally five accepted categories for fine art but this has been expanded now to include seven art forms. These are:
As time passes, more categories may be added. Art is a fluid, evolving concept, and it’s possible for the definition to expand without diluting the original meaning.
It’s also worth pointing out that although all of these can be included as fine art, not every item within these categories will qualify as fine art. Architecture is an excellent example of this principle; many forms would not be considered fine art but applied art instead.
Artwork can be broadly grouped into several different categories. Some pieces may straddle more than one category but are usually defined by one main category. This is usually determined by where their main characteristics and features lie.
In addition to fine art, the main categories of visual artwork are:
| Category of Artwork | Description |
| Applied art | The addition of aesthetic designs to everyday functional items which would otherwise not have any artistic value. |
| Decorative | Ornamental art forms which are also functional such as ceramics and jewellery |
| Commercial | Artwork which is used to increase sales or to promote products, services or a particular brand. |
| Crafts | A term that can be used interchangeably with decorative art |
| Conceptual | Artwork that is used primarily to express an idea or message with less focus on the aesthetic qualities |
Being called “fine art” carries an air of superiority and implies that there’s something particularly high quality about this category of artwork. This is not the case. Although fine art is often produced by some of the most talented artists, there’s not any requirement to be a world-class artist to create fine art.
Another way to describe fine art would be “art for art’s sake”; it serves no other function than to convey creativity, and to inspire the imagination of others. The use of the word “fine” in fine art is intended to convey the purity of the intent and the artwork, rather than any reference to the skill of the artist.
Some types of fine art are undeniably beautiful, and the skill involved will be appreciated by all. However, some other types of fine art are more controversial, especially contemporary works. It can sometimes be difficult to decide whether some types of artwork are truly fine art, and the answer may be somewhat subjective.
One of the points of confusion with modern art is the gray area between conceptual art and fine art. Both types of art are produced purely for artistic merit, and don’t serve any functional purpose but there are some fundamental differences between the two.
Conceptual art is designed to convey a message or a specific idea, and the aesthetics are less important. A lot of work goes into the planning and processing of the piece, with less emphasis on artistic ability in the execution.
Some conceptual artists possess phenomenal talent in fine arts, such as Damien Hirst. Conceptual art is no less imaginative or creative, but the skill lies in capturing the message and conveying it rather than producing something that will be recognized for its beauty.
The description of fine art isn’t something that’s typically attached to artwork which is produced by the average layperson, but technically, there’s no reason why it couldn’t be.
There is no defined requirement for a fine artist to have studied any qualifications, or had any specific level of experience.
The main qualifier would be in the quality of the end piece. As described above, fine art is defined as something that’s beautiful and delivers a certain aesthetic which would be universally appreciated.
While it’s true that everyone has their own particular taste and style, it may be hard to sincerely describe something as fine art if it were poorly executed. The intent may match that required for fine art, but the end result may fall somewhat short. For this reason, fine art is usually produced by talented artists, typically someone who has practised their skills for many years.
Examples of famous fine artists include Rembrandt, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo and Jackson Pollock.
Fine art may sound expensive, but it’s really just art that’s produced for the sole purpose of creating beauty. Fine art is available to suit all budgets, and you don’t need to be an art connoisseur to appreciate the skill involved. If a piece of artwork is beautiful, original, creative and doesn’t serve any other purpose, you can be confident that you’re looking at a piece of fine art.
