Answer: Art historians study the factors that influence a given artist
Explanation:
The statement that is best summarizing the statement from the question is that art historians study the factors that influence a given artist which means that those are the contextual forces between them that art historians are exploring.
They are shaping artists and their oeuvres and because of that, there are historical epochs.
The Dutch Golden Age is one of the finest examples of independence breeding cultural pride. During the 17th century, driven by new freedom from Spanish Catholic rule, the Dutch Republic experienced a surge in economic and cultural prominence. An influx of trade boosted commerce, leading to the rise of a large middle and merchant class in the market for the proliferation of art that had cropped up in response to the burgeoning celebration of Dutch life and identity. Painting flowered as artists focused on everyday scenes of ordinary life, expressed through a growing cadre of genre works, all indicative of the thriving creative period.