Vocabulary
Art, artists, creativity, and the world of exhibitions and galleries.
Vocabulary for art, artists, and creative work. Grammar: modal verbs of deduction — must, might, can't to express what we think is true.
Art, artists, creativity, and the world of exhibitions and galleries.
Modal verbs of deduction — must, might / could, can't
| Modal | Certainty | Example |
|---|---|---|
| must | Almost certain it is true | He must be very talented — his work is extraordinary. |
| might / could | Possible — you are not sure | This might be a forgery. / It could be worth a lot. |
| can't | Almost certain it is NOT true | That can't be real gold — it's too light. |
Read the article carefully, then answer the questions.
Walk into any major gallery and you will quickly discover that people disagree — sometimes quite strongly — about what counts as great art. A visitor staring at a canvas covered in a single shade of blue might think: "This can't be serious." Another might stand for twenty minutes in silence, moved in a way they struggle to explain. Both responses must tell us something important — not about the painting, but about the people looking at it.
Critics and curators have long argued about whether quality in art is objective or subjective. Some maintain that great works must possess certain qualities: technical skill, originality, emotional depth, and the ability to communicate across cultures and centuries. Others argue that these standards can't be separated from the cultural context in which art is made and judged — what seems brilliant in one era might seem unremarkable in another.
The art market adds another layer of complexity. A painting that sells for tens of millions at auction must be considered significant by somebody — but critics warn that price and quality can't always be equated. Some of history's most admired works were ignored or rejected during their creators' lifetimes; the artists who made them might have died in poverty without knowing the value their work would one day hold.
Perhaps what great art does, above all else, is ask questions that can't be fully answered. It might provoke discomfort, recognition, joy, or confusion — but it rarely leaves the viewer entirely unchanged. That, many would argue, must be enough.