Authenticity means “to be of undisputed origin and not a copy; genuine”. Stevenson. A (2010, p. 107) The idea of being truly authentic in a world that we take inspiration from seems impossible. I believe that you can create work that is your idea. However, you would have been influenced by something on the way. “Modernism is characterised by a deliberate rejection of the styles of the past; emphasising instead innovation and experimentation in forms, materials and techniques to create artworks that better reflected modern society.” (Tate definition). But although this sounds as though it is authentic, modernists still took inspiration from work that had been done before. They just made it new and different, creating work that was forward thinking. An example I found was the work by Paul Harvey, a Stuckist artist who took inspiration from Mucha. Harveys work is a modern twist on the style Mucha did at the start of the 20th century.
(Mucha. A 1899 Moet and Chandon White Star) (Harvey.P 2002 Madonna)
The term ‘authenticity’ was first used to describe art work by Walter Benjamin. This was meant that it wasn’t a reproduction of anything before. So, it is easy to be authentic, if your artwork isn’t a complete copy of someone else’s work. The idea of reproduction and forgery then comes into play. “an original work of art is considered by the art market to have a higher value over a reproduction because it contains this authenticity”. (Tate definition)
I think it is possible to be authentic and that the principles of modernism also allow for this to happen. Even though true authenticity may not be possible you can still produce work that is done differently in some way. Through colour, line, technique, medium and many more aspects of art and design.
Authenticity Art Term: London: Tate. Available from: http://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/a/authenticity [Accessed 4 November 2017]
Harvey, P. (2002) Madonna. Available from: http://www.paulharveypaintings.com/NewLook/2002/027.htm [Accessed 4 November 2017]
Modernism Art Term: London: Tate. Available from: http://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/m/modernism [Accessed 4 November 2017]
Mucha, A. (1899) Moet and Chandon White Star. Available from: https://www.alfonsmucha.org/Moet-And-Chandon-White-Star.html [Accessed 4 November 2017]
Stevenson, A. (2010) The Oxford Dictionary of English, 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press