Final answer:
Art can be categorized by style, which is integral for understanding its historical development and context. Style-based classifications continue to guide art history narratives, and artworks are studied as cultural artifacts, moving beyond Eurocentric and gendered biases.
Step-by-step explanation:
Art can be categorized chronologically, geographically, or by style. Style is a key factor in categorizing and understanding art, as it influences the narratives developed by art historians. In times past, many histories of art focused on tracing stylistic development and change, and even though a multitude of aspects attract the interest of art historians today, style-based period divisions and labels remain widely used. Understanding the style of various time periods, regions, and individual artists is fundamental to gaining art historical knowledge and is often central to introductory art history education.
Another important consideration within art history is the work's cultural context. Artworks are analyzed as cultural artifacts, helping to understand their significance both at the time of creation and through subsequent history. This analysis examines the why, who, and how of a work's origin, as well as its evolution in cultural significance over time. Finally, the dichotomy between "fine art" and "craft", historically influenced by Eurocentric classifications and gendered divisions in art, is critiqued, advocating for equal appreciation of all forms of artistic production without bias.