Historical aspect of the Democratization of the Art
Emancipatory Narratives and French Art
This research paper examines the emergence and evolution of the narrative of "bringing art to the people" or the democratization of culture in France during the late 19th and 20th centuries. The summary discusses how this narrative drew upon the model of the French Republic, linking art, workers, and ongoing liberatory aspirations, and how it was embraced by artists in the early to mid-1900s.
State Intervention and Cultural Mission
The paper explains how the growth of the middle class, postwar immigration, and emerging patterns of social exclusion led to the state playing a key role in the pursuit of culture's social mission. This mission became a central part of cultural policy in Britain, France, and beyond during the 1970s. The democratization of art continues to be a prominent feature of many cultural policies today, where it has become increasingly pertinent to demonstrate the public value of high-cost art institutions and where vestiges of the assumed social emancipatory power of art remain.
The summary outlines how the democratization of art is defined as making the arts accessible to as many people as possible, enhancing the quality of life for a wider section of the community through the promotion of an appreciation and understanding of artworks. The emergence of art as a collectible commodity during the Renaissance led to the creation of an aesthetic discourse that favored form, pictorial conceit, and authorship over function. By the 18th century, an international network of critics, dealers, artists, and collectors formed the infrastructure of an elite world bound together by social contacts and shared discourse, with women largely excluded.
The paper discusses how increases in wealth and education in the 18th century produced an expansion of the public for art, reflected in the growth of the art market and the advent of public exhibitions and museums. The French Revolution and the creation of the Louvre as the paradigmatic public art museum marked a crucial moment in this evolution, with the museum embodying the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. However, the paper notes that despite calls for museums to become more diverse, they still often cater to a predominantly white and well-educated audience, reflecting the ongoing challenge of making art truly accessible to all.
