Objectivist Theory of Art: A Critical Study

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to understand the difference between Expressionist Theory and Objectivist Theory of Art and critically evaluate the importance of both of them. There have been many theories in Art. The Expressionist Theory can be considered as the most popular one. Croce and Collingwood are two major representatives of this theory. According to this theory, Art is basically the self-expression of the artist shared by others. In 20th Century Karl R. Popper raised some serious objections against the Expressionist Theory and presented his own theory of Art called the Objectivist Theory. The study is fundamentally theoretical and qualitative in nature and the original writings of Collingwood, Kant and Popper are used. Finally, it has been concluded that this theory is outstanding from the point of view of an artist but has certain limitations, if we analyze it from the point of view of a philosopher and a metaphysician.