Abstract: This article provides a brief systemic analysis of the key concepts of the so-called new science of art developed by the Austrian art historian Hans Sedlmayr. The result of Seldmayr’s pursuits are reflected in creation of his own philosophy of art and culture based on a particular worldview. The cognition of the whole, along with individual and unique, underlies this science. Understanding is the goal of scientific knowledge for Sedlmayr. It suggests not only abstract knowledge, but peculiar existential experience as well. Sedlmayr interprets the understanding of artwork as its contemplation, which in turn, is identical to its actualization or presence. In Seldlmayr’s art of science, epistemologies and ontologies merge into each other. He interprets artworks simultaneously as the event and as the social organism, which overcomes the linearity of time and fragmentation of plurality. This artificial complex system, built on the paradoxical identity of the single and plenty, is both finite and infinite. Sedlmayr’s views encompass classical and nonclassical approach towards cognition of the whole. He relies on the principles of monism, seeking to reduce all concepts to a single basis, single point of singularity that designates the synthesis of all the moments of the whole and can be expressed by a single category. The main category, which resembles the center of the opposites, is the “midpoint” (Mitte). The aforementioned ideas are consistent and logical only in such scientific worldview that identifies ontology and epistemology, which implies the unity of contemplation and phenomenon of the artwork. Therefore, in Sedlmayr's constructions, actualization or revival of the artwork is identical with its comprehension. The systemic approach towards the artwork reflected in the theoretical works of Sedlmayr extends the boundaries of art science and converges with philosophy.

Abstract: The subject of the research is the theoretical views of an Austrian art historian Hans Sedlmayr on interpretation of art work. The corner stone of Hans Sedlmayr's approach is the idea of integrity. According to the art historian, art work is not just a system of external relations or formal structure but an organic whole that can be perceived both intellectually and sensually. The most important feature of integrity is a graphic nature of art work which was understood by Hans Sedlmayr as the unity of the sensual and spiritual, abstract and concrete, subjective and objective based on traditions of classical German philosophy. The method of this research is the systems approach that allows to understand ideas of Hans Sedlmayr as one whole. The novelty of the research is caused by the fact that the researcher views the ideas of Hans Sedlmayr in terms of classical German philosophy but not only as part of Vienna School of art. This approach allows to take another look at the main categories used by Hans Sedlmayr to analyze art work, in particular, the midpoint and graphic (visual) nature.