Everyone has a different view and preference for art, but that doesn't mean that not all art is beautiful just because you don't like it how it looks. This is what the textbook talks about in chapter two, "What is Art?" The chapter begins by talking about how the value of art can depend on the era in which we find ourselves. Some works of art don't attract attention until much later. For this reason, artists often have difficulty finding the right audience for their work. On the other hand, some artists create strictly commissioned works of art. As stated before, everyone's preference for art is different and each work can create different emotions. The aesthetic of a piece really depends on the viewer's ability to interpret it. The textbook then goes on to discuss different artistic styles. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In Western art there was first representational or naturalistic art. This is art that depicts the work essentially just as we see it. One form of this is trompe l'oeil, or "fooling the eye", which is pretty self-explanatory. So, artists like Picasso dabbled in abstract art, which is art that still depicts natural forms but pushes their boundaries. Stylized art falls between the representational and the abstract, while non-representational art is another category where the art represents nothing of the natural world. There are many factors that define or explain a specific work of art. There is its form and context or iconography in which we can decipher the meaning or subject matter behind a work, there are different materials and techniques that artists can use, and there is a context in which we can discover further the meaning behind a work and its purpose. . In every art class I took, whether in high school or college, everyone developed their own specific artistic style. Many people definitely have a more naturalistic approach, but I've seen others experiment with more even stylized or abstract pieces. Whatever the style, everyone still appreciates their work as art. I think criticism is especially helpful in this because we can understand the meaning, intention, and context behind a piece. This helps us see that even if a piece isn't our favorite style, we can still see that it's beautiful. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay I personally prefer to work in a more naturalistic style, but I can still appreciate other styles as well. This chapter helps people understand all the different approaches to art, which directly applies to anyone taking an art class, including myself.