Why in the mid-eighteenth century did art criticism begin?

While art criticism has existed in some form since antiquity, the mid-eighteenth century is often considered a pivotal point for its emergence as a distinct and influential field. Several factors contributed to this development:

1. The Rise of the Enlightenment: The Enlightenment emphasized reason, logic, and individual judgment. This fostered a more critical approach to art, moving away from solely accepting traditional norms and religious dogma. People began to engage with art more actively, analyzing its aesthetics, technique, and purpose.

2. Growing Art Market: The eighteenth century witnessed a burgeoning art market with increased demand for paintings, sculptures, and other artistic works. This fueled the need for knowledgeable buyers, critics, and connoisseurs to navigate and evaluate the market.

3. The Rise of Academies and Salons: Academies and art exhibitions like the French Salon provided platforms for displaying and critiquing artwork. These events attracted artists, collectors, and critics, fostering discussions and debates about artistic merit and trends.

4. The Development of Art History: With the rise of art collecting and museums, art history began to take shape. Historians started analyzing and interpreting artistic works within a historical context, contributing to a more sophisticated understanding of art and its evolution.

5. The Development of Art Theory: Prominent figures like Denis Diderot, Johann Joachim Winckelmann, and Edmund Burke developed art theories that emphasized aesthetics, beauty, and the emotional power of art. These theories provided frameworks for analyzing and interpreting art, further fueling the development of art criticism.

6. The Rise of Print Media: The widespread adoption of print media, including newspapers, magazines, and journals, allowed for the dissemination of art criticism to a wider audience. This contributed to the growth of public interest in art and the development of a more informed art-going public.

It's important to note that the mid-eighteenth century didn't mark the "beginning" of art criticism in a vacuum. Earlier examples exist, such as Leonardo da Vinci's writings on art. However, this period represents a significant shift towards a more formal, critical, and widely influential approach to art analysis, laying the foundation for the modern field of art criticism.