The Meaning of Art

The human equivalent of the element of form in art is the sense of beauty. What remains constant is sensibility. What changes is the understanding that human beings construct on their own by abstracting their perceptions and mental life, and we owe the variable element in art, that is, expression, to this. A work of art is, in a way, the liberation of the personality. Normally, our emotions are suppressed and restrained. When we dwell on a work of art, there is a sudden release. This is not just a release—sympathy is also a release of emotions—it is simultaneously an elevation, a tightening, and an exaltation. This is the distinction between art and sentimentality: sentimentality is a release, but it is also a loosening and relaxation of emotions. Art, however, is a release but at the same time a restraint. Art is a thrifty emotion, an excitement that creates good form.