Perversion of Art by Professionalism and Gain

Tolstoy argues that when artists become professionals motivated by remuneration, art loses its sincerity and becomes a trade, producing counterfeit works that corrupt rather than elevate society.

Tolstoy's compromise with the censor for publication illustrates how institutional and professional pressures can distort artistic integrity.

Tolstoy criticizes the immense labor and resources spent on art, the stunting of human lives through specialized training, and the cruelty of conductors, suggesting art has been perverted by professional demands and financial interests.

He highlights how art is supported by the unwilling labor of the poor and questions whether it justifies such sacrifices.

He criticizes how art is defined to justify the productions that please a certain class, rather than seeking a true, universal definition.