Research Paper on:
Naturalistic and Abstract Art

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
offers an depiction that is similar to the way an object would appear in a photograph. However, "naturalism" also is used in art circles in more complicated way that involve  the "theory of positivism" developed by Auguste Comte ("Naturalistic Art"). However, for the context of this discussion, it will be assumed that the general understanding of word applies and is  referring to realistic productions of the artists subject. What is abstract art? Abstract means, literally, "to take what is important away from what is not" ("Abstract Art"). While all  art is an abstractive representation of another object, some art is interpreted as being more abstract than others. For example, primitive art, such as cave drawing, have clear representations of  animals, that is a body, four legs, tail, horns, etc. These shapes are not realistic, that is, naturalistic, but the intentions of the ancient artist to represent a horse, deer,  etc. are quite clear. In relation to both of the questions given above, the student who is researching this topic should note that a realistic artist, as opposed to an  artist who is primarily interested in abstraction, are interested in diametrically opposed goals. A realist is more concerned with "concretion," that is, "rending the actual, tangible object that he sees  with all its particular and peculiar characteristics" (Fleming 38). On other hand, an artist who is primarily interested in abstraction, as indicated above, will eliminate "all extraneous accessories" and  focus on the "inner core, the essential qualities of things (Fleming 38). Anther dimension of this is the artist who is also an idealist, as these representations also take into  consideration not only how things are, but also how the artist believes they should be (Fleming 38). Why have Western art forms moved repeatedly between the poles of naturalistic