Art Theory and the Problem of Meaning: A Critical Analysis of the Production and Interpretation of the Artwork

This study examines the problem of meaning in art through a critical analysis of the processes of artistic production and interpretation, with particular emphasis on the cultural and artistic context of the city of Isfahan. Drawing on philosophy of art, aesthetics, hermeneutics, and contemporary theories of meaning, the research challenges essentialist approaches that locate meaning solely in the artist’s intention or in the formal properties of the artwork. Using a qualitative, theory-driven methodology and contextual case studies, the study demonstrates that meaning in art emerges as a dynamic, relational process shaped by the interaction of artistic intention, material and symbolic structures, cultural memory, discursive frameworks, and audience interpretation. The findings reveal that Isfahan’s historically layered cultural environment intensifies interpretive plurality and contributes to the instability and openness of artistic meaning. By proposing an integrated, context-sensitive model of meaning, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how artworks generate and transform meaning within culturally complex settings.

Keywords:

Meaning in Art , Art Theory , Interpretation , Hermeneutics , Isfahan