Berger states that “If we can see the present clearly enough, we shall ask the right questions of the past.” I believe this to be correct. If you can find facts, you will be able to ask the right question. However, if you ask the question first, you will look for facts to support it even though it may be false. Mysticism operates in a manner such as this where a question is asked about an image’s past and history is filled in around it. This mystery in art occurs because the artist themselves are the only ones who truly know what is going on in the work. Everyone else is left to speculate and interpret. I do not believe this to be a bad thing however and in fact allows us to make of art as we please. The mysticism that surrounds older pieces and even new ones gives us an opportunity to imagine for ourselves which I think is what any artist would want.
The modern era has allowed for replication of art. This has changed the way art is now viewed. Valuable oil paintings that were once a single moment in time captured on a single canvas can be screen printed on a t-shirt or sent in an email. I believe this to have more of a benefit today than a harmful affect or decrease of the originals value. Take for example the works of Andy Warhol. http://www.alt-web-design.com/photo-tutorials/images/andy-warhol-effect-all.jpg His art produced by screen-print can literally pump thousands of replicas. This does not decrease the powerful imagery he conveys but instead shares its meaning with a much broader audience.
