The Accidental Masterpiece: Perspective

In this third chapter of The Accidental Masterpiece, Kimmelman delved into the concept of perspective. In an excellent bit of writing, he blended his discussions of the physical perspective with those of the inner point of view throughout the chapter, juxtaposing mountain views with Duchamp's surprisingly well-received R. Mutt urinals on the very first page. Kimmelman's main point in the chapter was that each individual has their own unique perspective, which gives them the capacity to appreciate that which others may not. Paul Cezanne's appreciation for Montagne Sainte-Victoire, mentioned by Kimmelman in an anecdote to his own experience, serves as an excellent example of this theme. Cezanne painted Sainte-Victoire again and again and again, in different styles and from different vantage points around the mountain. Plenty of people would be unable to appreciate Cezanne's fascination with Sainte-Victoire, but there were many others who can appreciate his fascination and the work it inspired. One of the most profound points I took away from the chapter was that one person's opinion doesn't matter: somewhere in the world, there is someone with the opposite opinion. That's probably one of the only sure things in society. Humanity's extinction may not even be a given - we may very well develop the technology necessary to flee earth and establish ourselves throughout the galaxy and the wider universe. But that's irrelevant. What I'm getting is that, if one person doesn't like your art, or your style, or your technique, there will always be other people who will appreciate it. What one person thinks doesn't define your art. Or anything you do, for that matter.