Who Is the Father of Modern Art Criticism?

Art|Modern Art

It is a matter of debate who is the father of modern art criticism, though some believe it is the French poet and critic Charles Baudelaire. Baudelaire was born in Paris in 1821 and was an early leader in the development of French Romanticism. He wrote extensively on literature and art, and his writings have been credited as having a major influence on modern art criticism.

Baudelaire’s most famous work, Les Fleurs du Mal (The Flowers of Evil), was published in 1857. In this book, he explored themes such as beauty, death and sin, using vivid imagery and vivid language. He also wrote essays on topics such as religion and philosophy that helped shape modern thinking about art.

Baudelaire’s writings influenced many other writers, including Oscar Wilde, who wrote extensively about art and its relation to life in his infamous novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. His influence can also be seen in the works of influential painters such as Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. All these artists were inspired by Baudelaire’s writings to create their own unique styles of painting.

In addition to his writing about art, Baudelaire was also an influential critic of it. He believed that all art should be judged according to its aesthetic merit, rather than its subject matter or moral implications.

He argued that art should be judged objectively based on its formal qualities rather than subjective criteria based on the artist’s personal opinion or beliefs. This approach has since become a cornerstone of modern art criticism.

Baudelaire’s influence is evident not only in his writings but also in the way he lived his life: he often sought out new experiences and ideas to explore through his writing and painting. His exploration into different cultures helped shape his views on art; he believed that all forms of culture had value and should be respected regardless of their origin or perceived value by society at large. This attitude has become increasingly prevalent since his time as more people began to appreciate different types of art from around the world rather than solely relying on traditional European masterpieces for inspiration.

It is clear that Charles Baudelaire had a profound influence on modern art criticism due to his insightful writings about literature, philosophy, religion and aesthetics; his open-minded approach towards different cultures; and above all else, his commitment to judging all forms of artwork objectively based on their formal qualities alone.

Conclusion

Charles Baudelaire can certainly be seen as one of the fathers of modern art criticism due to his pioneering ideas about aesthetics combined with an appreciation for different cultures from around the world which shaped how we view artwork today.