Some years ago, art critic Arthur Danto declared that art had ended. Not that all artists had died, but he said the great artistic tradition of the past six centures was over. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, Danto reconsiders the future of art. Also, remembering Picasso and the Impressionists.

SEGMENT 1

Picasso biographer John Richardson was the artist's neighbor and friend. He tells Steve Paulson that Picasso was not the monster of popular legend. Volume two of Richardson's definitive "The Life of Picasso" covers Picasso's cubist period and describes its importance to art history.

SEGMENT 2:

Philosopher and art critic Arthur Danto (the man who proclaimed the end of art after Warhol made his brillo boxes) talks with Judith Strasser about the narrative of art history and the criteria of what constitutes a work of art. Danto's latest book is "After the End of Art." Also, Microsoft mogul Bill Gates, through his Corbis company, is assembling an on-line archive of some of the world's most famous images. Journalist Richard Rapaport talks with Jim Fleming about the experience of viewing art on a computer screen and the challenge it creates for museums.

SEGMENT 3:

Barbara Ehrlich White teaches art history at Tufts University. She talks with Steve Paulson about the remarkably fruitful friendships among the Impressionist painters. White's book is called "Impressionists Side by Side."

Distribution dates:

• week of 01/19/97 - hour 3