Final answer:
An artist's intention in creating art is influenced by a combination of historical context, cultural background, personal expression, and the intended function of the artwork. Art historians analyze these elements to understand the artwork's significance both at the time it was created and in subsequent periods.
Step-by-step explanation:
An artist's intention when creating a piece of art can be quite complex and multidimensional. It involves various factors including the historical period the artist is working in, the cultural, historical, political, and economic contexts of the artwork, the chosen style, and the personal reasons for creating the media art. For example, an artist may intend to communicate specific feelings or ideas or to respond to the historical period's aesthetic or philosophical discourses. In some instances, artists create art to serve as a cultural artifact, which means the work not only has aesthetic value but also provides insight into the time and place it was made.
Art historians study art in its historical context to understand why and by whom it was created and how it originally functioned. This contextual analysis may consider the fact that art's significance can evolve over time and that a piece's function—at a basic level—plays a role in determining its features. Approaches such as feminism, globalism, multiculturalism, and identity politics provide new perspectives in the analysis of art. Art appreciation requires an understanding of different cultures, materials, and conceptions of beauty throughout history. The response of the audience to an artwork also contributes to its meaning, which might differ from the artist's original intentions.