The artistic framework of digital works: Danto’s theory and AI art on the example of „Portrait of Edmond de Belamy”

The topic of the artistic framework of digital works through the lens of Arthur Danto’s theory provides a unique perspective on how art is formed and valued in the contemporary digital age, especially in the context of art created with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). Danto emphasized that art becomes art not because of the inherent properties of the work itself, but through the institutional framework in which the work is placed and recognized. This paper explores the application of Danto’s concept of the „artistic frame” to digital art, using the group Obvious and their work Portrait of Edmond de Belamy, the most expensive artwork created with AI, as an example. Through the analysis of this piece, it examines how, in the contemporary context, the valuation of art shifts from traditional physical objects to digital, generative processes where AI plays a key role. The Portrait of Edmond de Belamy, which became a symbol of a new artistic direction and commercial success, illustrates how institutional frameworks (such as auction houses, galleries and online platforms) enable the recognition of digital works as art. Through Danto’s framework, it is discussed how digital art, although created by technology, is recognized as art through the acceptance of cultural and market norms that define its artistic status. This paper concludes that the artistic framework of digital works lies not only in the technology that creates them but in the process of their acceptance within contemporary artistic institutions and markets.