HOLA

The first recordings of the word “masterpiece” date back to the guild system of the late 16th century. Originally, the term was used to indicate a piece of work that an apprentice had to produce in order to become a master craftsman. The work would be judged by a commission and, in case of a positive evaluation, the author would be entitled to a guild membership . Today, the word has acquired a quite different and loose meaning, being commonly used to indicate a work of outstanding quality: possibly (not necessarily) the greatest in the career of its author; widely praised by critics (earlier) and historian (later); and influential enough to generate its own lineage of works (for good or for bad).

Alejandro Aravena

As far as such concept is historically defined, and therefore subject to change, it is fair to question whether the word “masterpiece” indicates properties that are already inherent in a designated object, and therefore meant to be simply discovered. Or rather, if that of the masterpiece is a condition that is instead produced by means of the interaction of a particular network of actors, of which the work itself is only a node.