How can we explain, in simple terms, what makes a great artist? This question is more complex than it seems, as it forces us to think more broadly about what art is and who artists are. Above all, it forces us to reflect on what makes one artist more important than another.

    This is a question that many of us – who are by and large not connoisseurs of art – have wondered about, especially since some contemporary works of art might not appear to be all that excellent at first sight.

    How can we, for instance, assess the quality of Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan’s infamous work Comedian, which consists of nothing more than a banana taped to a wall? The piece was exhibited at the Art Basel Miami art fair in 2019, and made headlines all over the world.

    Irony, humour and parody have been part of art since its conception, especially the more self-questioning artistic movements that have emerged since the beginning of the 20th century. The French writer Alfred Jarry and the Dadaist movement, which included artists like Marcel Duchamp, were the first to take an ironic, critical attitude towards what they considered to be the uselessness of art.

    Today, however, art has become a million-dollar business. Through its laughable technique and execution, Cattelan’s work was likely intended to poke fun at a market that was going to determine its worth solely on the basis of its financial value, regardless of its meaning. Indeed, two of the three pieces that Cattelan produced sold for $120,000 each.

    This is not to say that Maurizio Cattelan is not a great artist. The scandal caused by his banana taped to the wall indicates that nowadays money alone seems to dictate what art is worthwhile. But if we leave market forces to one side, how do we decide whether a work is a masterpiece, and whether the artist who made it is a master?

    History holds the answers

    In answering the question of what makes an artist great, we have one indispensable resource that allows us to learn, understand and recognise certain defining characteristics. We can use it to assess the quality, expressiveness and originality of artists’ works, both in the historical context of their time and in relation to other artists. This resource is the history of art.

    By looking back at artists of the past, we can pinpoint five key, clear elements of what makes a great artist.

•     Innovation and originality. Great artists have a unique perspective that allows them to introduce new ideas, techniques or styles that revolutionise the way art is understood and practised.

    In this way, masters of art discover new ways of using artistic materials and tools. They also introduce a new vision – what we might call “conceptual originality” – by creating works with unique ideas and themes that have not been explored before and offering new narratives that end up becoming part of our culture. For instance, Leonardo da Vinci, known for works like The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, was an innovator in both technique and concepts.

•     Technical skill. All the great masters of art possess, in one form or another, great control of their artistic medium, be it painting, sculpture, photography, or something else – tools like brushes, chisels, cameras and so on are handled masterfully to produce their works.

    They also show consistent control and precision in their work, with the ability to capture detail accurately, realistically, or expressively depending on their style.

•     Cultural and historical impact. A great artist’s work has resonance, be it in their own time or after, and has a profound influence on both audiences and other artists.

    Their works often document or respond to important moments of their time. For example, Goya captured the horrors of the 1808-1814 Peninsular War in an evocative series of etchings. Picasso also starkly expressed the pain and suffering experienced by civilians in the Basque town of Guernica when it was bombed in 1937, in what is now one of his most famous works.

•     Breaking new ground. A master artist often inspires and opens up avenues for other artists. This includes artists like Vincent van Gogh, who, though unrecognised during his lifetime, developed a unique and emotive style that has profoundly influenced modern art. Or Frida Kahlo, whose deeply personal and symbolic works exploring themes of identity, pain and femininity inspire countless artists to this day.

    The work of the masters sets new standards in the art world. They are founding or key figures in artistic movements, as Picasso was with Cubism, making them a constant, dependable reference for new generations of artists.

•     Connection with the viewer. The works of a master artist often have an emotional and conceptual depth that resonates with the viewer, evoking strong emotions or deep reflections.

    Art history is a source of knowledge, a discipline that combines criticism, aesthetics and market forces. Despite the different standards of each era, which change and evolve over time, its criteria can help us not only to understand who the great artists are, but also to continue learning and enjoying their works, as well as discovering new perspectives and stories about them.

    These factors combine to help explain why the work of some artists transcends time and trends, making them immortal figures in the art world.