The one thing i've really never understood in my life.  I feel that I can appreciate beauty in an odd sort of scientific sense (more like I can appreciate the amount of work and effort put into things) - that or I can appreciate natural works of art.

The thing I have trouble with is understand what the artist means.

(wh....at?)

I can sometimes use context clues (where they live, in what times, what political strife is going on), but otherwise, looking a painting, I am just .. confused, usually.