Rachel Worthington: In-class Readings 5

R.G. Collingwood, in Chapter 11, further illustrates how art is not meant to be an exact replica of something. As a matter of fact, he asserts that it is means for the artist to express him/herself emotionally. One might think this to be similar to Tolstoy's view of art, but it is different. Collingwood explains how an artist goes through an intense process of analyzing their emotions so that they can identify what specifically caused them and how the are specifically being experienced. A work of art is about as individualistic as anything can be. Art can never be an exact replica of anything, otherwise it would just be a "craft". What makes art so powerful is the individuality that goes into creating it. Of course, individual emotions that artists portray are communicated through art, but this can only happen if the artist takes the time to convey that in the work. Thus, the primary goal of art is for self-expression, and the message it sends to the audience follows.