Reproductions

            Of the readings for this week I was most interested in the article, The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. I found the ideas in this article to be interesting points to think about in how authenticity and a work being unique come into conflict with the ability to create reproductions are introduced. This reminded me of a part of a movie I watched called Mona Lisa Smile in which the teacher is explaining how a unique work of art has been mass produced and made available to the common man in different objects, postcards, calendars, etc. She goes on to comment that reproduction has also offered the option of anyone being able to paint like Van Gogh through a paint by number. Follow the link to the video to see what I am referring too;

Mona Lisa Smile; Van Gogh Paint By Number Clip


I thought this clip offered up a pretty spot on example of what the article is talking about, that yes mechanical reproduction has allowed us to invent ways of creating art that can be made in duplicate and can still be considered unique in the form of lithography and printing. However, there is an issue with how far to take this technology and at what point does it matter that creating reproductions takes away the authenticity of the work, authenticity being the quality becomes depreciated and the historical testimony of the art doesn't exist in a reproduction.

I think that it is interesting to consider such ideas especially within the masses of technology available at our fingertips today. Anyone can go online and find a picture of a famous artwork, download it, print it out and have their own reproduction of the work. I believe trips to museums and galleries to see the actual work in person holds more merit now because of the readiness of reproductions today.