Page 1033 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

‘I cannot paint a Christ that is not in my heart,’ said
Mihailov gloomily.
‘Yes; but in that case, if you will allow me to say what I
think.... Your picture is so fine that my observation cannot

detract from it, and, besides, it is only my personal
opinion. With you it is different. Your very motive is
different. But let us take Ivanov. I imagine that if Christ is
brought down to the level of an historical character, it
would have been better for Ivanov to select some other
historical subject, fresh, untouched.’
‘But if this is the greatest subject presented to art?’
‘If one looked one would find others. But the point is
that art cannot suffer doubt and discussion. And before the
picture of Ivanov the question arises for the believer and
the unbeliever alike, ‘Is it God, or is it not God?’ and the
unity of the impression is destroyed.’
‘Why so? I think that for educated people,’ said
Mihailov, ‘the question cannot exist.’
Golenishtchev did not agree with this, and confounded
Mihailov by his support of his first idea of the unity of the
impression being essential to art.
Mihailov was greatly perturbed, but he could say
nothing in defense of his own idea.

1032 of 1759