# Ludwig van Beethoven — What Is Art? character guide

> Ludwig van Beethoven in What Is Art? by Leo Tolstoy.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Beethoven

**First appearance:** 0003-i

## Who they are

Composer cited as an example of true art by Tolstoy.

## In the story

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_art_se/chapters/xii)

Used as an example of a composer whose deafness led to abnormal works praised by critics.

### [Chapter XIII: Wagner and the Counterfeit of Art](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_art_se/chapters/xiii)

Mentioned as a composer of true art, contrasted with Wagner's imitative methods.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_art_se/chapters/xiv)

His later sonata Opus 101 is presented as an example of obscure, unhealthy excitement compared to clear folk music.

### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_art_se/chapters/xvi)

His Ninth Symphony is cited as an example of bad, exclusive art that fails to unite people.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_art_se/characters/beethoven
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_art_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/what_is_art_se/characters