Danto on the Artworld: Meaning and Context

Historical Context

Danto’s 1964 essay responds to works such as Andy Warhol’s Brillo Boxes, which may be perceptually indistinguishable from ordinary commercial objects. Visual appearance alone therefore cannot explain why one object counts as art. The verified wording appears in The Artworld at The Journal of Philosophy 61, no. 19 (1964), pp. 571–584.

Meaning

Artistic status depends partly on interpretation, theory, and knowledge of art history. Theory does not magically beautify an object; it makes possible the kind of identification through which the object can be understood as an artwork. The sentence should be read as part of that argument, not as a detachable motivational slogan.

Philosophical Interpretation

The sentence helped shape institutional and historical theories of art. A central objection is that invoking an artworld may become circular unless one explains which practices, reasons, and histories legitimately confer artistic recognition. Comparing the passage with the linked aesthetics records clarifies both its influence and its limits.