On the aesthetic relation of art to reality

NGC 1333: Stellar Nursery in Perseus

‘Let art be content with its lofty, splendid mission of being a substitute for reality in case of its absence, and of being a textbook of life for man. Reality stands higher than dreams, and essential purpose stands higher than fantastic claims.’

N.G. Chernyshevsky, ‘The Aesthetic Relation of Art to Reality’, MA thesis, 1855, in Selected Philosophical Essays, Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow, 1953, 379

4 thoughts on “On the aesthetic relation of art to reality

  1. ‘Art for arts sake’ has always been a vacuous phrase. Art should help/point to/ advance the spiritual understanding of human beings- it has a purpose beyond self expression and beyond price.

    Liked by 1 person

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