Authentic Art and Artists

During the what I call “period of serious art” (circa 1880–1980) in an unsuccessful search for authenticity, self-expression and self-realization by bourgeois, art and artists offer a view on an attractive but unattainable alternative. Artists can be authentic while others cannot. This explains the high respect for art and artists as well as the respectful subdued and still behavior in the halls and museums, allowing people to embark on self-searching journeys. Later, along with informalization, an authentic live and self-determination appear to become within everybody’s reach, but not really. As a consequence, the attraction of the arts’ profession only increases and this leads to ever lower incomes of artists.