What Is Art? · Chapter
XX: The Conclusion explained
Tolstoy concludes his work by emphasizing the profound role of art in shaping human behavior and society.
What happens
Tolstoy concludes his work by emphasizing the profound role of art in shaping human behavior and society. He argues that art, guided by true science and religious perception, can transform the feeling of brotherhood and love into an instinct for all people, replacing violence and coercion with free, joyous cooperation. He calls for a reform of science to align with moral and religious knowledge, so that art may fulfill its destiny of establishing universal union and the kingdom of God on earth.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the text abruptly shifts from abstract philosophical discussi…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Art as a Means of Human Union
Tolstoy argues that art's destiny is to establish brotherly union among men, transmitting the feeling of love and unity.
- Religious Perception as the Guide for Art
He insists that art must be guided by the religious perception of the age, which is the consciousness of brotherhood.
- Perversion of Art by Professionalism and Gain
Tolstoy condemns the false path of art and science that serves the privileged classes rather than the common good.
Characters to notice
- Leo Tolstoy
Author and narrator, reflecting on his fifteen-year labor and the central thesis of the work.
Key passages
“The task for art to accomplish is to make that feeling of brotherhood and love of one's neighbour, now attained only by the best members of the society, the customary feeling and the instinct of all men.”
Art's mission is to turn the rare feeling of brotherly love into a universal instinct for everyone.
Tolstoy defines the ultimate goal of art in the modern age.
“Art is not a pleasure, a solace, or an amusement; art is a great matter. Art is an organ of human life, transmitting man's reasonable perception into feeling.”
Art is not mere entertainment but a vital function that converts rational understanding into emotion.
Tolstoy emphasizes the serious, essential role of art in human life.
“It is to be hoped that the work I have tried to perform concerning art will be performed also for science—that the falseness of the theory of science for science's sake will be demonstrated; that the necessity of acknowledging Christian teaching in its true meaning will be clearly shown...”
Tolstoy hopes that his critique of art will inspire a similar reform of science, exposing the fallacy of 'science for science's sake' and restoring moral and religious knowledge to its rightful place.
He calls for a parallel reformation in science to align with true human purpose.
