Non-Authenticity: The Paradigm of Contemporary Art

Nathalie Heinich distinguishes a mutation in the history of art, which appeared due the development of contemporary art. Analyzing a contemporary work of art she finds the non-authenticity to be its essential quality. It is this quality that makes the contemporary work of art different from a modern one laying the claim to authenticity. Non-authenticity presents itself in the author's intention as untrustworthiness, cheat, insincerity, impersonality, giving up interiority etc.; in the relationship between the artist and his/her work then as breaking the continuity between the two.