Art Fakes and Forgeries Essay - 1266 Words

Chris Wiley English 1000 13 September 2010 Fakes and Forgeries Lessing v. Dutton The two essays, â€Å"What is Wrong with a Forgery,† by Alfred Lessing and â€Å"Artistic Crimes,† by Denis Dutton, explore the different reasons that they give negative connotation to the concept of an artistic forgery. Each author concludes that a forgery is indeed wrongful, however their reasons for this conclusion differ in several distinct ways. This essay will summarize both authors’ main points and compare and contrast the fundamental differences of their arguments. Lessing begins â€Å"What is Wrong with a Forgery† by establishing that forgeries are not void of aesthetic value. In fact, he states that a clear distinction must be made between the†¦show more content†¦Lessing uses this concept to draw a distinction between creativity or originality and reproduction or technique. Technique, he says is public, it is something anyone can possess or learn, while originality or creativity is a deeper concept to explore. Both qualities in pe rfect balance, he asserts, are necessary to create a great work of art. Lessing says forgery is in the concept of originality and not technique stating, â€Å"forgery is a concept that can be made meaningful only by reference to the concept of originality, and hence only to art viewed as a creative, not as a reproductive or technical, activity. The element of performance or technique in art cannot be an object for forgery because technique is not the kind of thing that can be forged. Technique is, as it were, public.† In the Vermeer case, it is not the technique that was forged but his discovery of it; his originality in its use. Lessing further defines his view of artistic originality and its importance. He contends that true artistic originality comes from the impact on the history and progression of art. Vermeer, he says was a great artist because he brought new and original technique and style to the artistic community and profoundly impacted art history. The ability to produce aesthetically beautiful pieces of art is not all that makes a great artist, but it is this originality or â€Å"the fact that [Vermeer] painted certainShow MoreRelated Stolen and Forged Artwork Essay1313 Words   |  6 PagesForged Artwork Since the beginning of its existence, art collecting has been a rather dangerous endeavor. Artwork fakes and even stolen art have been documented since the days of ancient Rome. Even then, the Romans often sought classical Greek artwork and sculptures, and more often than not, works purchased were by Roman artists trying to imitate classic Greek works (Kaufman 36). Today, modern day forgers are still trying to fool art enthusiasts and are becoming increasingly sophisticated inRead MoreArt Forgery886 Words   |  4 PagesForgery is a normal aspect of the art world. 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