Art vs. Craft — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 21, 2024
Art is the expression of creative skill and imagination, producing works to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power. Craft involves creating objects by hand, focusing on the skills and techniques used.
Difference Between Art and Craft
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Art embodies individual expression, creativity, and imagination, aimed at evoking an emotional response or offering a unique perspective. It's subjective, often seen in paintings, sculptures, and performances, where the value lies in its originality and the message it conveys. In contrast, craft emphasizes practical skills and techniques applied to the creation of functional or decorative items, such as pottery, knitting, and woodworking. The focus is on the mastery of the material and the utility of the finished product.
While art is celebrated for its ability to challenge, provoke, and inspire through abstract or representational forms, craft is appreciated for its precision, technical skill, and the tangible utility of the crafted object. Art tends to be associated with museums and galleries, spaces dedicated to the contemplation and appreciation of creative works. On the other hand, crafts are often found in markets, homes, and everyday use, highlighting their role in daily life and cultural traditions.
The evaluation of art often revolves around the concept, execution, and the emotional or intellectual response it generates. It's not just about the beauty but the impact and the questions it raises. Meanwhile, the value of craft is closely tied to the quality of workmanship, the functionality of the item, and the skill level demonstrated in its creation. Craftspeople are highly regarded for their technical abilities and the perfection of their craft.
Artistic movements and theories have evolved, focusing on the artist's intention, the medium's exploration, and the boundary-pushing of what art can be. Crafts, however, maintain a strong connection to tradition, with innovations often seen in the refinement of techniques or the creative application of traditional methods to produce something new or unique.
The distinction between art and craft has blurred over time, with many recognizing that craftsmanship can embody artistic qualities and that art can involve meticulous techniques. This convergence acknowledges the intrinsic value of both fields, highlighting their interdependence in the broader spectrum of human creativity and expression.
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Comparison Chart
Focus
Creative expression, imagination
Skills, techniques in making objects
Purpose
Evoke emotions, offer unique perspectives
Produce functional or decorative items
Value
Originality, emotional impact
Mastery of material, utility
Evaluation
Concept, execution, emotional response
Workmanship, functionality, skill level
Space
Museums, galleries
Markets, homes, everyday use
Connection
To individual expression and creativity
To tradition, practical utility
Evolution
Artistic movements, exploration of medium
Refinement of techniques, tradition
Compare with Definitions
Art
A mode of expression that utilizes creativity and imagination to produce works appreciated for their beauty or emotional power.
The painting captures the artist's emotional turmoil through abstract forms.
Craft
Emphasizes the mastery of material and functionality.
Traditional weaving techniques have been passed down through generations.
Art
Focuses on evoking emotions and offering perspectives.
Modern art often challenges viewers to find their own interpretations.
Craft
To produce items that are both functional and decorative.
The crafted wooden furniture combines utility with aesthetic appeal.
Art
To communicate ideas, feelings, or to provoke thought.
The sculpture serves as a commentary on societal norms.
Craft
Found in everyday life, markets, and homes, highlighting cultural traditions.
The craft fair showcased a variety of handmade goods reflecting local traditions.
Art
Based on originality, the emotional or intellectual response it generates.
Critics praised the performance for its innovative use of space and narrative.
Craft
The creation of objects by hand, focusing on the application of skills and techniques.
The handmade pottery was admired for its intricate designs and functionality.
Art
Associated with galleries and museums, emphasizing contemplation.
The artist's work was featured in a renowned contemporary art museum.
Craft
Based on the quality of workmanship and the skill level demonstrated.
The artisan's jewelry is highly sought after for its exquisite craftsmanship.
Art
Art is a diverse range of (and products of) human activities involving creative imagination to express technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas.There is no generally agreed definition of what constitutes art, and ideas have changed over time. The three classical branches of visual art are painting, sculpture, and architecture.
Craft
A craft or trade is a pastime or an occupation that requires particular skills and knowledge of skilled work. In a historical sense, particularly the Middle Ages and earlier, the term is usually applied to people occupied in small scale production of goods, or their maintenance, for example by tinkers.
Art
The conscious use of the imagination in the production of objects intended to be contemplated or appreciated as beautiful, as in the arrangement of forms, sounds, or words.
Craft
Skill in doing or making something, as in the arts; proficiency.
Art
Such activity in the visual or plastic arts
Takes classes in art at the college.
Craft
Skill in evasion or deception; guile.
Art
Products of this activity; imaginative works considered as a group
Art on display in the lobby.
Craft
An occupation or trade requiring manual dexterity or skilled artistry.
Art
A field or category of art, such as music, ballet, or literature.
Craft
The practitioners of such an occupation or trade considered as a group.
Art
A nonscientific branch of learning; one of the liberal arts.
Craft
Pl. craft A boat, ship, aircraft, or spacecraft.
Art
A skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation
The art of negotiation.
Craft
Crafts Items made by craftspeople.
Art
Arts Artful devices, stratagems, and tricks.
Craft
To make or construct (something) with care or ingenuity.
Art
Artful contrivance; cunning.
Craft
Strength; power; might; force .
Art
(Printing) Illustrative material, especially in contrast to text.
Craft
(uncountable) Intellectual power; skill; art.
Art
A second person singular present indicative of be.
Craft
Ability, skilfulness, especially skill in making plans and carrying them into execution; dexterity in managing affairs, adroitness, practical cunning; ingenuity in constructing, dexterity .
Art
(uncountable) The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colours, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the senses and emotions, usually specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium.
There is a debate as to whether graffiti is art or vandalism.
Craft
Cunning, art, skill, or dexterity applied to bad purposes; artifice; guile; subtlety; shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception .
Art
(uncountable) The creative and emotional expression of mental imagery, such as visual, auditory, social, etc.
Craft
(obsolete) Occult art, magic .
Art
(countable) Skillful creative activity, usually with an aesthetic focus.
She's mastered the art of programming.
Craft
A work or product of art .
Art
(uncountable) The study and the product of these processes.
He's at university to study art.
Craft
(collective or plural) Handmade items, especially domestic or decorative objects; handicrafts .
Art
(uncountable) Aesthetic value.
Her photographs are nice, but there's no art in them.
Craft
A device, a means; a magical device, spell or enchantment .
Art
(uncountable) Artwork.
Sotheby's regularly auctions art for millions.
Art collection
Craft
Learning of the schools, scholarship; a branch of learning or knowledge, a science, especially one of the ‘seven liberal arts’ of the medieval universities .
Art
(countable) A field or category of art, such as painting, sculpture, music, ballet, or literature.
I'm a great supporter of the arts.
Craft
(uncountable) Skill, skilfulness, art, especially the skill needed for a particular profession .
The craft of writing plays.
Art
(countable) A nonscientific branch of learning; one of the liberal arts.
Craft
A branch of skilled work or trade, especially one requiring manual dexterity or artistic skill, but sometimes applied equally to any business, calling or profession; the skilled practice of a practical occupation .
The carpenter's craft.
He learned his craft as an apprentice.
Art
(countable) Skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation.
Craft
(countable) A trade or profession as embodied in its practitioners collectively; the members of a trade or handicraft as a body; an association of these; a trade's union, guild, or ‘company’ .
She represented the craft of brewers.
Art
Contrivance, scheming, manipulation.
Craft
A vehicle designed for navigation in or on water or air or through outer space .
Art
The second person singular, indicative mode, present tense, of the substantive verb Be; but formed after the analogy of the plural are, with the ending -t, as in thou shalt, wilt, orig. an ending of the second person sing. pret. Cf. Be. Now used only in solemn or poetical style.
Craft
(nautical) Boats, especially of smaller size than ships. Historically primarily applied to vessels engaged in loading or unloading of other vessels, as lighters, hoys, and barges.
Art
The employment of means to accomplish some desired end; the adaptation of things in the natural world to the uses of life; the application of knowledge or power to practical purposes.
Blest with each grace of nature and of art.
Craft
Those vessels attendant on a fleet, such as cutters, schooners, and gun-boats, generally commanded by lieutenants.
Art
A system of rules serving to facilitate the performance of certain actions; a system of principles and rules for attaining a desired end; method of doing well some special work; - often contradistinguished from science or speculative principles; as, the art of building or engraving; the art of war; the art of navigation.
Science is systematized knowledge . . . Art is knowledge made efficient by skill.
Craft
(figurative) A woman.
Art
The systematic application of knowledge or skill in effecting a desired result. Also, an occupation or business requiring such knowledge or skill.
The fishermen can't employ their art with so much success in so troubled a sea.
Craft
Implements used in catching fish, such as net, line, or hook. Modern use primarily in whaling, as in harpoons, hand-lances, etc. .
Art
The application of skill to the production of the beautiful by imitation or design, or an occupation in which skill is so employed, as in painting and sculpture; one of the fine arts; as, he prefers art to literature.
Craft
To make by hand and with much skill.
Art
Those branches of learning which are taught in the academical course of colleges; as, master of arts.
In fearless youth we tempt the heights of arts.
Four years spent in the arts (as they are called in colleges) is, perhaps, laying too laborious a foundation.
Craft
To construct, develop something (like a skilled craftsman).
State crafting; the process of crafting global policing
Art
Learning; study; applied knowledge, science, or letters.
So vast is art, so narrow human wit.
Craft
(video games) To combine multiple items to form a new item, such as armour or medicine.
Art
Skill, dexterity, or the power of performing certain actions, acquired by experience, study, or observation; knack; as, a man has the art of managing his business to advantage.
Craft
Strength; might; secret power.
Art
Skillful plan; device.
They employed every art to soothe . . . the discontented warriors.
Craft
Art or skill; dexterity in particular manual employment; hence, the occupation or employment itself; manual art; a trade.
Ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
A poem is the work of the poet; poesy is his skill or craft of making.
Since the birth of time, throughout all ages and nations,Has the craft of the smith been held in repute.
Art
Cunning; artifice; craft.
Madam, I swear I use no art at all.
Animals practice art when opposed to their superiors in strength.
Craft
Those engaged in any trade, taken collectively; a guild; as, the craft of ironmongers.
The control of trade passed from the merchant guilds to the new craft guilds.
Art
The black art; magic.
In America, literature and the elegant arts must grow up side by side with the coarser plants of daily necessity.
Craft
A vessel; vessels of any kind; - generally used in a collective sense.
The evolutions of the numerous tiny craft moving over the lake.
Art
The products of human creativity; works of art collectively;
An art exhibition
A fine collection of art
Craft
To play tricks; to practice artifice.
You have crafted fair.
Art
The creation of beautiful or significant things;
Art does not need to be innovative to be good
I was never any good at art
He said that architecture is the art of wasting space beautifully
Craft
The skilled practice of a practical occupation;
He learned his trade as an apprentice
Art
A superior skill that you can learn by study and practice and observation;
The art of conversation
It's quite an art
Craft
A vehicle designed for navigation in or on water or air or through outer space
Art
Photographs or other visual representations in a printed publication;
The publisher was responsible for all the artwork in the book
Craft
People who perform a particular kind of skilled work;
He represented the craft of brewers
As they say in the trade
Craft
Skill in an occupation or trade
Craft
Shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception
Craft
Make by hand and with much skill;
The artisan crafted a complicated tool
Common Curiosities
What is the primary focus of art?
Art primarily focuses on creative expression, imagination, and evoking an emotional or intellectual response.
Why is art often associated with museums and galleries?
Art is associated with museums and galleries because these spaces are dedicated to the contemplation, appreciation, and exhibition of creative works meant to inspire or provoke thought.
Can an object be considered both art and craft?
Yes, many objects blend the qualities of both art and craft, showcasing creative expression through skilled techniques, making the distinction not always clear-cut.
What makes craft items unique compared to mass-produced goods?
Craft items are unique due to their handmade nature, the skill and technique involved in their creation, and the personal touch of the craftsperson, often reflecting cultural traditions.
Can the skills used in craft be considered a form of art?
Yes, the skills and techniques used in craft can be considered a form of art, especially when they express creativity, mastery, and aesthetic beauty.
How do cultural traditions influence craft?
Cultural traditions heavily influence craft, as many crafting techniques, materials, and designs are passed down through generations, reflecting the history, values, and aesthetics of a community.
How is the value of an art piece determined?
The value of an art piece is often determined by its originality, the emotional or intellectual response it elicits, its historical significance, and the reputation of the artist.
What is the significance of craftsmanship in today’s digital age?
In today's digital age, craftsmanship holds significant value as it embodies the human touch, dedication to quality, and a connection to tradition and cultural heritage, offering a counterpoint to mass-produced and digital goods.
How does craft differ from art in terms of purpose?
Craft is centered on creating functional or decorative items through the application of specific skills and techniques, emphasizing utility and craftsmanship.
What role does functionality play in distinguishing craft from art?
Functionality is a key distinguishing factor, with craft focusing on producing items that have practical use or decorative purpose, while art is more concerned with expression and impact.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
