Artist

Definitions and History of the Term “Artist”
– Dictionary definitions: The term “artist” has various meanings, including a learned person, a follower of a practical science, a follower of a manual art, and someone who makes their craft a fine art.
– History of the term: The term “artist” is derived from the Greek word “technē,” which implies mastery of any craft. In Greek culture, the nine Muses oversaw different fields of human creation, but none were associated with the visual arts. The word “art” comes from the Latin word “ars,” which conveys both skill and beauty. During the Middle Ages, the word “artist” existed in some countries but referred to craftsmen. The division between major and minor arts was established during the Renaissance. Contemporary definitions of artist and art vary across cultures.

Training and Employment
– Classification by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Visual artists are classified as either craft artists or fine artists. Craft artists create functional works of art, while fine artists create aesthetic works.
– Source of skill: Both craft artists and fine artists develop their skills through long-term repetition and practice. Many fine artists have studied their art form at university, and some have a master’s degree in fine arts. Artists may also receive on-the-job training or study independently.
– Employment statistics: The number of available jobs for artists is increasing slowly compared to other fields. Approximately half of US artists are self-employed. Fine artists have a median income of around US$50,000 per year, while craft artists have a median income of around US$33,000 per year. The median income for all art-related fields is US$61,000, including jobs like graphic designers, multimedia artists, animators, and fashion designers. Many artists work part-time and hold a second job.

Influence of the Muses
– The Greek Muses oversaw different fields of human creation, such as epic poetry, history, love poetry, music, tragedy, sacred song, dance, comedy, and astronomy. However, none of them were associated with the visual arts of painting and sculpture.

Evolution of the Term “Artist”
– The term “artist” has evolved over time. In the Middle Ages, it referred to craftsmen, while the term “artisan” was unknown. The works of Leon Battista Alberti in the 15th century emphasized the intellectual skills of the artist over manual skills. The academies in Europe during the second half of the 16th century further established the distinction between fine and applied arts.

Additional References and External Links
– References: P. Galloni’s book “Il sacro artefice. Mitologie degli artigiani medievali” and C. T. Onions’ “The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary.”
– External links: The Wiktionary page for the term “artist” Source:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artists

Artist (Wikipedia)

This article is about the person who is engaged in arts. For the person that is also known as an artist, see Singer.

For other uses, see Artist (disambiguation).

The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. (April 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

An artist is a person engaged in an activity related to creating art, practicing the arts, or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse refers to a practitioner in the visual arts only. However, the term is also often used in the entertainment business, especially in a business context, for musicians and other performers (although less often for actors). "Artiste" (French for artist) is a variant used in English in this context, but this use has become rare. The use of the term "artist" to describe writers is valid, but less common, and mostly restricted to contexts such as critics' reviews.