Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey Among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See

In Get the Picture, Bosker explores the complex process of developing artistic discernment, revealing that acquiring an Eye for art involves far more than natural talent or academic study; it requires navigating a labyrinth of social codes, theoretical frameworks, and institutional expectations that often prioritize context over content.

Bosker finds that the art world remains deeply divided on whether an Eye can be developed at all. She encounters two opposing camps: those who believe artistic discernment is innate and those who view it as learnable. As one art advisor with “the posh accent of minor royalty” definitively stated, “I was always taught you either have the Eye or you don’t. I don’t know that it’s necessarily something you can learn” (56). Bosker notes that this perspective reflects the broader elitism of the art world that seeks to maintain exclusive access to cultural capital by suggesting that true appreciation is a birthright rather than an acquired skill.

The process of developing an Eye requires mastering an elaborate code of conduct that extends far beyond understanding art itself. Jack’s intense focus on Bosker’s appearance, behavior, and social connections demonstrates how developing an Eye is inseparable from performing the role of art world insider.