Leo Tolstoy “What is Art?”

Tolstoy means that we see art as something that can affect us like an emotion that portray our feelings. Tolstoy explains that communication is one of the main needs in art because if the artists cannot communicate the emotion or feelings of their piece to the audience, then the piece is not considered art. Artists needs to be able to explain their emotion through their art and needs to make a physical reaction on their art so that it can be considered as “art” which is also called “infectiousness”. With just emotions the piece is not considered art. Tolstoy also states that without any art in this world humans would be so illiterate of their own and others emotions, therefore making society barbarians. Tolstoy conditions of infectiousness are

“1. on the greater or lesser individuality of the feeling transmitted;

2. on the greater or lesser clearness with which the feeling is transmitted;

3. on the sincerity of the artist, i.e., on the greater or lesser force with which the artist himself feels the emotion he transmits”

These three is how Tolstoy suggest we apply to evaluate art.

I believe it can be useful to viewing art. I say that because I rarely look at art and try to find the meaning of it. If I just see a painting, I would just be like wow that is a cool painting if I am being honest, but reading this made me realize that artists put their time and effort into creating their own unique master piece. I feel that art is something that is very important in the world and without it we would be very different. I do not think that it would be different is a good way though. 

I choose this because of the situation we are all in as of right now. Some of us are just saying “f*** it” and not caring about what is going on and the others are losing their marbles due to being quarantine. I do believe that this image matches Tolstoy definition of art because of the emotion that the image provides.

 “Art is a human activity consisting in this, that one man consciously, by means of certain external signs, hands on to others feelings he has lived through, and that other people are infected by these feelings and also experience them.” #11