In this contribution, the author expresses concern about the development of contemporary art, which has more and more become the plaything of capital and power interests through the increasing infuence of pressure groups and networks. It is necessary, precisely in the light of the sitation as diagnosed here, to hold on to a notion of artistic autonomy, for neither science nor political ideologies can ensure the continuation of art by means of artistic creations. The clear discourse-oriented nature of contemporary art since the 1990s has not led to greater freedom, but rather transformed the field of art into a sociology-dominated zone of capital generation. Here the artists are the ones who truly lose out, for their status and their role today are significantly restricted by art managers and curators.