What makes art valuable
Art is valuable because of who made it, just as much because of the mastery of the art itself or the fame of the artist.
Why is an art piece by Leonardo Da Vinci or Rembrandt so valuable? Well, firstly because of who the artists were as individuals. Art is personal. Looking at a painting by Da Vinci or Rembrandt, we see a small portion of the artist themselves.
Of course, the mastery in their work is evident and plays a role in the value of their artwork too. However, even the works of these artists that are in many ways not necessarily masterful art are still valuable.
Also, fame of the artist can’t be the only reason for the value of art. Scarcity and the human element play a major role. Leonardo Da Vinci can no longer produce work and therefore it would be very special to own his artwork or really anything he created (his fame aside).
To prove this point, it would not matter if another artist of Da Vinci’s time created artwork in his style or with the same mastery. Sure, the artist could stand with his work as a separate artist, but nothing would make it a work of Da Vinci. It is personal, you see. It’s because Da Vinci created it that matters.
And no, someone doesn’t have to have be Da Vinci or Rembrandt for their art to be valuable. Sure, the art of certain artists is more valuable, more masterful, but no art is without intrinsic value.
We attach value to human, personal stories. Art is inseparably a personal thing and it tells a story —often a semi-biographical story of the artist’s life and emotions. That is what makes art valuable.