(Originally Written Feb. 28, 2008 in the Journal).
A work of art will be perfect when its content is important and significant to all men and therefore, moral. The expression will be clear and intelligible to all and therefore, beautiful. The author's relation to his work will be sincere and therefore, true.
Imperfect works will meet each of these criteria to a lesser degree.
Imperfect works will fall under one of three categories:
1. Those with important content
2. Those with extraordinary beauty
3. Those with heartfelt sincerity
The young artists tend to have their work stand out for sincerity. Among older artists their work stands out for content. Laborious artists tend to have their work stand out for beauty.
All works of art, and in general, all mental activities are appraised and are appraisable based on these three fundamental qualities.
Art is correctly evaluated only when all three conditions are taken into account. Art is incorrectly evaluated on one or two categories, but not the third.
Evaluating art on only one category lowers the general level of what is demanded of art.
The prevalent theories of aesthetics each err on focusing on only one category.
Tendencious art theory accept duly the moral aspect of the piece. It praises solely based on the content. Art for art's sake only considers art based on beauty and form. The realistic theory only considers the author's relation to the piece. Each of these theories forgets a fundamental part of the creation of art: The artist's ability to see something new and important.
In order for a man to see new things that are also important things, the artist must be morally enlightened.
An artist cannot be selfish.
If an artist can see what is new and important he will find the form to express it and he will sincerely do so.
The artist must work solely to satisfy his inner needs and not to satisfy external forces.
True works of art stem from revelation which we cannot fully grasp and arise from the soul of the artist. This art, when expressed, light up the path on which humanity progresses.
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