On art and artists
Read On art and artists, an IELTS Reading practice passage. There really is no such thing as art, only artists. Once these were people who took coloured earth and roughed out the forms of a bison on the wall of a cave; today some buy their paints, and others design posters for hoardings; they did a…
Passage preview
There really is no such thing as art, only artists. Once these were people who took coloured earth and roughed out the forms of a bison on the wall of a cave; today some buy their paints, and others design posters for hoardings; they did and do many other things. There is no harm in calling all these activities art as long as we keep in mind that such a word may mean very different things in different times and places, and as long as we realize that Art with a capital A has no existence: it has become something of an obsession. You may crush an artist by telling him that what he has just done may be quite good in its own way, only it is not true art.
Vocabulary from this passage
6 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- aversion noun
A strong feeling of dislike or opposition towards something, often leading to an urge to avoid it.
His intense aversion to abstract art prevented him from appreciating the artist's unconventional methods.
- faithful rendering noun
An accurate, meticulous, and exact artistic reproduction or translation of an original subject or scene.
The botanical illustration was praised for its remarkably faithful rendering of the rare orchid species.
- loathe verb
To feel intense dislike, disgust, or severe hatred for someone or something.
Critics who favor realism often loathe modern pieces that deliberately ignore traditional aesthetic rules.
- rebuff verb
To reject or dismiss an offer, suggestion, or person in an abrupt, ungracious, or blunt manner.
The prominent art critic chose to rebuff the young painter's request for a formal mentorship.
- stumbling block noun
An unexpected circumstance or obstacle that causes difficulty, hesitation, or prevents progress toward a goal.
A lack of structural understanding can become a major stumbling block for amateur sculptors.
- tremendous sincerity noun
An exceptionally deep, genuine, and honest expression of emotion, intention, or artistic representation.
The portrait captivated the audience through the tremendous sincerity captured in the subject's weary eyes.