The Comparison of Art

Art, in the Oxford dictionary, is defined as “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power”.

Can art really be compared? Is it even fair to try? Whether you’re an artist, an art lover, or just someone who enjoys scrolling through Instagram posts of fancy galleries, chances are you’ve wondered this at some point. Someone will drop a comment like, "I prefer Picasso over Da Vinci," or "This painting is so much better than that one." It’s natural to want to rank things, but when it comes to art, does it actually work?

Let’s dive into the messy, colorful world of art and see if it can—or should—be compared.

Art is Subjective (Like, Really Subjective)

First off, let’s get one thing straight: art is incredibly subjective. What one person finds captivating, another might find totally uninteresting or even downright ugly. A piece that makes one person tear up might leave someone else cold. And that’s okay! Art is about personal experience, emotions, and interpretation. So, can we compare two pieces of art if everyone’s seeing it in a different way? It’s tricky. What “speaks” to you might not speak to someone else, and vice versa.

But still, people do compare. Why? Because we’re humans, and we love rankings. Whether it’s sports teams, movies, or even pizza toppings, we constantly feel the urge to size things up. And let’s face it—sometimes comparing art helps us understand it better. The real question is: can we make a meaningful comparison, or are we just putting things side by side for the sake of convenience?

The "Technical" Side of Art: Can We Compare Skill?

Okay, let's talk about technique for a second. If we focus on things like brushstrokes, color usage, or composition, there’s definitely a way to compare how things are done. In that sense, yes, you can compare two artists in terms of their technical skill. Take a Renaissance painting and compare it to a modern abstract piece. One might be all about perfection and realistic detail, while the other is about emotions and shapes more than realism. One's technically “harder” to execute, but does that automatically make it "better"? Not necessarily.

A lot of modern art challenges our ideas about what constitutes “good” or “skilled” art. Is a super-detailed, photorealistic portrait better than a simple, minimalist canvas? The technical comparison is clear, but the value of the piece comes down to context, meaning, and personal perception. So while you can compare technical execution, it’s not always a straightforward comparison.

Context Matters: History, Culture, and Purpose

Here’s another reason why comparing art is complicated: context. Let’s say you put a piece of traditional African art next to a Renaissance masterpiece. On a purely visual level, they might look totally different, but both carry deep cultural significance. The African piece might represent a spiritual connection, a celebration of community, or an exploration of local traditions. The Renaissance painting might have been commissioned by a wealthy patron, intended to reflect the ideals of the time, or perhaps to tell a story from the Bible.

When you put art in context—history, culture, and the purpose behind it—it becomes a whole different ball game. It's not just about looking at two paintings and saying, "This one’s better." It’s about understanding the time and place they came from, why they were created, and what message they were meant to convey.

The "Feelings" Factor: How Do You Compare Emotion?

But, let’s be real, a lot of art isn’t just about skill or history—it’s about how it makes you feel. The emotional impact of a piece of art is something almost impossible to compare. One painting might fill you with a sense of peace, while another might evoke anger or sadness. These feelings are personal, and how each person reacts to a piece of art can vary wildly.

Think about it: have you ever stood in front of a painting or sculpture that left you breathless, even though you couldn’t explain why? That’s the magic of art. It taps into something deep inside of us, something that’s hard to articulate but very real. When comparing art, how do you quantify feeling? One person might see a piece and get goosebumps, while someone else might be completely indifferent. Who’s to say one is right or wrong?

Is Art Meant to Be Compared?

Here’s a thought: maybe art isn’t really meant to be compared at all. Maybe it’s meant to stand on its own. When you compare, you risk losing the nuances, the individuality, the specialness of each piece. Each work of art has its own vibe, its own unique expression, and forcing a comparison might oversimplify what’s being said. Comparing art can sometimes be like comparing apples to oranges—or maybe like comparing a poem to a song. They’re both art, but they’re doing very different things.

Sure, comparison can help us see different styles, movements, and trends in art history. But it doesn’t necessarily make one piece more important than another.

What About "Best" vs. "Favorite"?

If you absolutely have to compare art (and let’s face it, we all do sometimes), there’s a way to do it without stepping on toes. Instead of asking, "Which is the best?"—try asking, "Which is your favorite?" or "What resonates with you most?" This opens up a more personal and less competitive conversation. There’s no universal answer to “what’s the best” because that answer changes from person to person.

Take the Mona Lisa, for example. It’s often hailed as the greatest painting in history. But there are plenty of people who don’t get what the big deal is. And that’s okay! It doesn’t mean they’re wrong or unappreciative of art—it just means they have a different taste. So, whether it's your favorite artist or your preferred style, that’s your personal take on what makes art meaningful to you.

The Bottom Line: Art is a Personal Journey

So, can art be compared? Technically, yes. You can compare techniques, historical context, styles, and even emotional responses. But should art be compared? That’s where it gets tricky. Art is deeply personal and often doesn’t fit into neat categories or rankings. It’s meant to make us think, feel, and experience the world in unique ways.

At the end of the day, comparing art might be fun for conversation or for deepening our understanding of different movements and styles—but the real magic of art comes when we let it speak to us on its own terms, without the pressure of “winning” or “being better than.” So next time someone tells you their favorite artist is “better” than yours, maybe just smile and say, “Yeah, I totally get that. But I love this one.”

Because in art, there are no wrong answers—just endless possibilities.