Why are theories and critical concepts important for art history?

Before we dive into some theoretical contexts for modern sculpture, let’s learn why theory plays an important role in the work of art historians.

Art history, just like any other discipline, is a shifting set of ideas, rather than a prescriptive set of rules, and the way we discuss art changes along with these ideas.

In the next steps, we’re going to learn how modern sculpture influenced important changes in the way artists, critics, art historians and viewers were thinking about modern sculpture.