1. The aesthetic value
In the first place, a work of art should obviously appeal to you. You can be attracted to a work of art for several reasons: you can find a work of art beautiful, of course, but a work of art can also intrigue you, irritate you, raise questions or evoke another emotion.
2. Personal relationship
There are different ways a work of art can come to life for you personally. It can simply be the subject, for example an image of your favorite travel destination, or perhaps the color or the material. A work of art can also evoke certain memories and associations, or mark a specific period in your life, such as a major life change like a new career or the birth of your child.
3. The story behind it
In general: an idea lasts longer than just an image. This means that if you only choose a work for estehtical reasons, you'll get tired of it faster than if the story behind the work also appeals to you. This could be a certain subject or theme that the artist refers to in his or her work, but also the working method of the artist or the research that preceded the creation of the work.
4. The entire oeuvre
Following on from that, it is interesting to explore how the work relates to the other works by this artist. You buy, as it were, a piece of the story that an artist tells over the years.
5. Historical context
Each work of art is also part of a larger whole, that of (art) history. Contemporary artists stand, as it were, on the shoulders of the artists who preceded them and often reflect on this in their work. It's easier to explore this layer once you learn more about art and art history: you will start to see the bigger picture and understand these references, but also train yourself to discover true originality.
