The importance of knowing the context (including original site/ circumstances of art work)

Knowing the context contributes, and can also be necessary to understand the meaning of art.

For example, when I first saw "Guernica" by Picasso, I did not understand what the painting depicted. Only when I read of the bombing of Guernica could I experience the suffering that the painting depicted.

So knowing the context can inform us what the object of artwork is, and can help us understand it better

Because it is an outlet. most people are very shut off so they will write poetry to.. almost rant. sometimes people can’t say their feelings out loud so they make it into an art form that is poetry, and write it down.

The gregorian chant was a major cultural milestone in the middle ages. it was one of the first codified forms of music meant to be played as written, where previously it was difficult to mass-produce and disseminate any music. what's more, these chants were also some of the first examples of musical notation: the notes and bars of today's music sheets are a reflection of centuries of evolution beginning with these chants. it became official throughout the entirety of the catholic church, meaning that nearly all of europe followed this musical notation and styling.