What Is Art‪?‬

What Is Art? is Leo Tolstoy’s bold and provocative examination of the purpose and moral responsibility of art. In this work, Tolstoy rejects the idea that art exists merely for beauty, pleasure, or elite appreciation. Instead, he argues that true art should communicate sincere human feeling and serve a moral function—uniting people through shared emotional and ethical experience. He sharply criticizes much of what is celebrated as “high art,” claiming it often serves only the privileged few.

Tolstoy defines art as a means of emotional transmission, where genuine feeling passes from the creator to the audience. He insists that great art must be accessible, truthful, and morally uplifting, encouraging compassion and human unity rather than vanity or excess. What Is Art? challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about creativity, culture, and artistic value. Controversial yet deeply thoughtful, the book remains essential for anyone interested in art, ethics, and the social role of creative expression.