Theory of Knowledge - Course Companion for Students Marija Uzunova Dang Arvin Singh Uzunov Dang

van Meegeren case study illuminates
The
challenges of expertise in the arts, but
some
experts continue to play central roles
nonetheless
authenticating the origin or appraising the
in
of artworks. We turn now to consider what
value
when experts disagree and whoshould
happens
authentication can involve disagreements and
Art
and sometimes a good deal of drama,
controversy,
Processes by which knowledge communities
too.
disagreements and arrive at consensus are
settle
interest to us in all AOKs, and in art they shed
of
on what counts as evidence, how expert
light
are evaluated, how trust and suspicion
opinions
and whether certainty can be achieved.
work,
example, how would we verify whether a
For
newly surfaced on the art market, is an
painting,
and formerly unknown work of one of
authentic
great masters? Experts in the fields of art
the
and sometimes forensic science work to
history
this question. In 2016, a drawing believed
answer
be an original sketch by Leonardo da Vinci
to
in Paris. Within a few months,
appeared
was forming around its authenticity
consensus
it was valued at 15million euros. There are
and
about 20 original “Leonardos” in the world
only
so experts at the French Ministry of Culture
and
that this rediscovered masterpiece was
declared
national treasure. With that status came an
a
ban, to give French museums 30 months
export
raise money to match the asking price so that
to
could keep the drawing. To dig deeper into
they
riveting story, follow the link.
this
terms: Charney Is it
Search
a Leonardo?
really
process of authenticating artworks is
The
and is influenced by the supposed
meticulous,
and potential value of the work. Experts
artist
a range of variables and factors with
consider
judgment.
practised
technique
The
analysed to
is
whether
determine
artwork is
an
with the
consistent
period and the
time
specific style.
artist’s
II. Perspectives
II. Perspectives
Figure 10.5 A forgery of Dirck van Baburen’s The Procuress by Han van Meegeren’s
have the last word on questions of art authenticity.
II.1 Expertise and aesthetic judgment
291