Example Of Thoughts On Eye And The Spectator Essay

At the beginning of this essay, O’Doherty urges the art community of historian to provide art history in ways that are more entertaining and engaging such as through fables. This is using Aesop fables. The ideology of modernism has fostered the evolution of the blank canvas. Imagining a situation where a museum contains empty canvas for years such as 1850, 1880, 1910, 1950 and 1970 show the strengths of art in those years. The use of paint on canvas has generated conflicting ideologies. The continued use of paint resulted in the elimination of illusionism. Most of the impressionist used paint to reduce illusionism. However, the illusionist used shells, glitter, stones and minerals and attached them to postcards and frames gesture that was seen to be backward.
The spectator is described as having arrived with modernism. The spectator does not seem intelligent on issues relating to work and will move around the gallery trying to understand every artwork provided. Related to the spectator is the eye. The eye is intelligent. O’Doherty notes that eye is very sensitive and can be able to discriminate as it observes different artwork. However, limitations are present and in certain situations, it (the eye) may fail to perceive an artwork. The use of collage alters the gallery space, and the spectator focuses much on the collage than the focusing on perception.

O’Doherty’s writing style is sometimes confusing, but he provides clear aspects of what one does in understating art. He provides different perspectives on factors that influence the perception of art. Some of these factors include hanging of paintings and photographs in galleries and their framing. Indeed framing can affect how one perceives art. One can be forced to ask questions such as how the hanging and the frame resonates with what the artist is trying to demonstrate. Despite the fact that the eye and the spectator are portrayed as different entities, O’Doherty tries to show these two aspects are necessary for understanding art. To the spectator, real space is important. As such based on O’Doherty’s analysis, artist need to ensure that they factor in aspects of how their work will be portrayed in galleries. Issues of economies of space and aesthetics become critical. As noted in the essay, use of collage can have an effect on the aesthetics of the whole artwork and thus needs to be used ad applied cautiously. Both the yeye are aspects that are in everyone and are critical in perceiving various forms of art to experience them.