Tolstoys Philosophy of Art Essay - 533 Words

Tolstoys Philosophy of Art Tolstoy approaches art with a very specific and narrow view of what is real and what is counterfeit in classifying artwork and what makes a work of art good or bad. Tolstoy believes that a work of art can be classified as real if and only if one man consciously by means of certain external signs, hands on to others feelings he has lived through, and that others are infected by these feelings and also experience them (10). He believes that art can only be defined as real by its ability to make the audience feel what the artist had intended to convey with his/her artwork. The feelings the artist intends to convey must also be sincere and true feelings based on personal experience, expressed to the†¦show more content†¦In comparison, he classifies bad art as art that is comprehensible only to those of a certain circle (520). Because often times art is only comprehensible by a certain class or group of people, it does not evoke a universal feeling and inherent knowledge of why the artist created a certain piece and what he/she was feeling at that time. Based on Tolstoys philosophy regarding real art versus counterfeit art and good art versus bad art, it seems to me that he would more than likely classify most pieces of the example art is counterfeit and/or bad art. Bulls Head by Picasso is a representation based on resemblance, therefore an imitation and could be considered counterfeit. The Idol from Amorgos would be considered by Tolstoy to be a form of idolatry, therefore not good Christian art. The Black Quadrilateral by Kazimir Malevich would more than likely be defined by Tolstoy as counterfeit because it doesnt seem to express or transmit an expression of a feeling that the artist intended to convey. The statue of David by Donatello would more than likely be defined as counterfeit by Tolstoy because of what may be some type of political meaning. Anything ecclesiastical or patriotic is not good art inShow MoreRelatedLeo Tolstoy s What Is Art?992 Words   |  4 PagesLeo Tolstoy’s What is Art? (1896) is a written work about his ideas concerning the nature of art. Tolstoy’s book concerns how art can express ideas of how to act right and what it’s purpose is. According to Tolstoy art is the intentional communication of an emotion from the artist to the audience where the hope is that the audience feels the emotion felt by the artist. This definition of art varies from other philosophies. Tolstoy believes that this type of communication is inevitable, that it isRead MoreAnalysis Of Leo Tolstoy s The French Artist 1258 Words   |  6 PagesLeo Tolstoy’s aesthetical assessment of art, and the role progress plays in regards to it, contrast greatly from that of the French artist, Marcel Duchamp. 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