What Is Art?

In this book Tolstoy explores the nature and purpose of art arguing that art should serve as a means of communication and should be accessible to all people not just a privileged few. He criticizes the art of his time for being elitist disconnected from the people and lacking moral purpose. He also distinguishes between what he calls true art which expresses universal human values and pseudo-art which is created for the sake of fashion or personal gain. Throughout the book Tolstoy emphasizes the importance of art that speaks to the human experience and serves a higher purpose in society.