La imagen mostrada. La cancelación de la imagen en el mundo del arte

Abstract

Museums and pictures have one thing in common: Both show something! And a special situation arises in that museums can show pictures. This leads to showing something which itself is showing something. This special situation leads to what amounts to a “sublation” (Aufhebung) of the picture with the result that the museum becomes the only institutionalized location allowing and even asking the viewer to see the picture not as a real symbol, but instead as a possible one. The museum does not show pictures that show something, but instead pictures that could show something if they wouldn't be in a museum.