Although we will probably never hang a Rembrandt or Picasso on our walls, we all know what we like when it comes to the art we choose for our homes. What you know and share about any piece of art can enhance appreciation for the work, and add layers of interest.
For instance, what about that watercolor that you always admired growing up, the one that hung over the fireplace? What do you know about who painted it? Do you know when and where it was created?
What if you found out it was painted in Egypt in 1940 by a Belorussian who escaped during the Revolution and immigrated to the United States in 1950 to find work as an illustrator at the Smithsonian Institute!
The point is, that a favorite piece of art has a history known to you. It may never be displayed in a museum or gallery, but it will hang in your home and tell its story. That is the kind of art history we can live with and appreciate.