art-interpretation-criticism-and-the-art-worldlisted

# Art Theory Fundamentals: Iconography, Semiotics, Critical Lenses, Intention, Looking, and the Art World > **Part 4 of 5** of the *Art Theory Fundamentals* reference (plugin `art-theory-fundamentals`), covering §17–§22. Sibling skills: `art-claims-elements-colour-and-composition` (§0–§7), `art-aesthetics-and-philosophy-of-art` (§8–§13), `art-history-modernism-and-the-canon` (§14–§16), `art-reference` (§23–§27). Section numbers are shared across the set; a reference written as §N → `skill` points into that sibling skill. > > **Currency:** Aesthetics and formal theory are stable to the point of being ancient. Two areas are live. See §23 → `art-reference` for AI authorship and copyright, and the state of the art market. > **⚠️ Read §1 → `art-claims-elements-colour-and-composition` first, because the epistemic situation here is unlike the sciences and > unlike the humanities that model themselves on sciences.** > > **⚠️ Art theory is not one thing. It is at least four things with different standards of > truth**, **and confusing them is the source of nearly every bad argument about art:** > **craft knowledge that is testable**, **philosophical claims that are argued**, > **historical claims that are evidenced**, **and interpretive claims that are neither > true nor false but better or worse.** > > **⚠️ GOTCHA** boxes mark widely-taught claims that are false, or fights that are > commonly mistaken for settled. > > **The three ideas that organize this document:** > 1. **⚠️ "Is i