Yet Another Benefit of Fine Art

From the Fine Art Connoisseur July/August 2025 Editor’s Note:

“A picture is worth a thousand words.” This famous adage has always been self-evident, but it’s urgently relevant now as our society ponders the huge benefits and the huge pitfalls of imagery generated by artificial intelligence (AI), including “deepfakes” — realistic-looking yet misleading media created with AI.

Much precious time and needless effort will be saved by employing AI, yet there is a human aspect to handmade fine art that we must not ignore. As editor of Fine Art Connoisseur, I am committed to sharing what motivates real artists to do what they do, and I hope you’ll agree that this issue attains that goal. And because young people always represent the future, I hope that you will share the magazine — after you have finished reading it — with a youngster who might enjoy skimming it and maybe even getting excited about one story or another.

I mention the young because — more than any generation in history — they will have to learn to communicate their ideas and stories visually, and to create images with intention and authenticity. In this digital age, it is the visually literate who are the most effective communicators, and they are also best equipped to parse facts from nonsense. Where imagery goes, people and power follow.

This magazine’s name includes the word “connoisseur” for a reason: we aim to help readers see and understand. Whether you’re looking at art or advertisements, learning how to see and understand is crucial. Without these skills, without visual literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills of your own, you’re relying on someone else’s judgment, and that’s never good. When you can discern, describe, and judge for yourself, you take control, and that’s especially meaningful for youngsters who may otherwise feel powerless in life.

Again, this may sound corny, but please do share Fine Art Connoisseur with someone younger. If they happen to wonder why that painting is composed as it is, or why we selected these specific images for that specific article, we’ll be making headway.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to artistic excellence, and please do share with us accounts of your own experiences with AI imagery.

What are your thoughts? Share your letter to the Editor below in the comments.

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