Laurent Guyot's 'L'art en question' Examines Art's Definition

In 'L'art en question', Laurent Guyot explores the possibility of defining art, acknowledging the impossibility of an absolute definition. The book engages with philosophical predecessors like Kant and Hegel, as well as artists such as Ingres and Rodin who theorized their practice. Guyot avoids closed systems, arguing that a fixed definition would freeze art's movement and life. He examines arguments and counterarguments, analyzing dead ends through Duchamp and Warhol. Rejecting both intellectualism and sentimentalism, he addresses truth, error, and beauty in art. Despite a classical theoretical framework that overlooks contemporary creation, the book serves as an excellent introduction to art philosophy. The review by Léa Bismuth was published in artpress in March 2009.