Authenticity and material

The art of the 20th and 21st centuries raises the question of whether the concept of authenticity is still relevant today. This term refers not only to the artwork itself but also to those who produce it, as well as its reception in art studies and media, on the market, or in museums. What can be considered authentic is continually renegotiated under the changing conditions of shifting cultural scientific paradigms. Closely linked to the problem of authenticity are also questions regarding the materiality of artifacts. The expansion of the concept of the artwork in the 20th century and the rapid advancement of media transformations prompt a critical examination of terms such as original, authenticity, reproduction, forgery, truth, originality, and legitimacy. In particular, computer- and internet-based art, as well as the preservation of ephemeral materials, lend significant relevance to the issue of authenticity. This volume brings together contributions that illuminate the topic from various perspectives within both art history and the history of ideas, as well as in the context of contemporary artistic creation.