Theory 4: Life Was Framed, from The Painter Who Lived Inside the Painting / Not Art Theory by Everybody the Artist
Now for a fast history lesson. Check this out:
The frame is probably the most important invention in the history of art. Because before the frame, there really was no such thing as “art”—not the way we think of it now anyway. People still painted and carved and made beautiful stuff, but they didn’t think of “artwork” in the same way we do. Carving symbols into rocks, decorating tools and homes—art wasn’t its own thing. It was part of everything.
This idea we have now—of art being apart from life, instead of a part of life? That’s actually pretty new.
And it all started with the invention of the frame. Why? Because the frame was the thing that made art its own thing.
The frame turned paintings into little windows—mini worlds you could peek into. By drawing a clear line around an image, the frame let people enjoy a picture of something—say, a holy scene or a story—without mistaking it for the real thing. The frame sent a clear message. It was like saying: “Hey, don’t freak out, this scene of angels and miracles isn’t actually happening in the room right here in front of you. Don’t worry, this isn’t part of the real world you’re standing in. This is different.”
Believe it or not, it actually wasn’t until around 700 or 800 years ago that people started using frames the way we think of them today, by putting wooden borders around paintings. Again, this wasn’t just a design choice. It was the point. The idea was simple: give the image its own clear space, so nobody will confuse it with real life.
Now, it might seem strange to us that anyone could ever mistake a painting for the real world. But that’s only because we’re children of the frame. For hundreds of years, frames have been teaching us to see art as something separate from life. That whole way of thinking? It’s not automatic. It’s something we’ve learned—passed down by centuries of framing practices.
At first, frames were built right into the wall or altar. Still part of the place. Still connected to it.
But eventually, people wanted even more separation. They wanted the ability to move the images from one place to another, and carry their meaning, even in a new space.
So the frame became its own object. Thus becoming a kind of container for the picture. Now you could lift a painting off the wall, carry it, hang it anywhere.
That’s when everything changed. Now, the frame didn’t just stop people from confusing art with real life; the frame made art totally its own thing. Totally not part of the world around it anymore.
Before frames, art was something you lived within. After frames, art became something you could live with out.
Of course, over time, the frame kept evolving. White gallery walls, pedestals, perfect lighting, little plaques with titles and dates—these are all just new kinds of frames. All of them doing the same job: keeping art apart from life.
Funny thing is, framing is so normal now, we barely notice it. We don’t even really need a fancy museum or a gold border anymore; because, ultimately, a frame is just a way of setting something apart. Which is why our question, "What is not Art?" works. Even a frame of mind is enough for us to change how we look at something.
But here’s the real question:
What is the frame actually framing? What are these little windows really showing us?
