The passage is primarily concerned with discussing
SaphiFebruary 1, 2020
Please help me understand the correct answer
Hi LSATMax Team! Looking to learn more about why the correct answer is B vs. D.
My thought is that the passage aimed to introduce a new perspective on the painting that Luminists (in general) create - and in the passage they discuss nature and it's relevance to such style then flip this notion as to distort our thought of Luminist painters. D was the closest answer I got to that.
Can you please explain why B is the correct answer? I'm having a hard time with 'the way one artist's work ...' since my thought was Luminist painters in general.
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The first paragraph tells us that the generally accepted view of Luminist paintings is that they use a transcendental atmosphere to illustrate nature's spirituality and mysticism as well as an idealized version of the world in contrast to the earlier American artistic tradition which portrayed nature as dynamic and energetic.
The second paragraph tells us that this generally accepted view fails to appreciate the actual significance of the transcendental atmosphere of Luminist paintings. Why? Because a closer examination of Luminist paintings suggests that this atmosphere is meant to represent the domestication of nature by humanity as opposed to human awe in the face of nature.
In the first two paragraphs, the passage is introducing a new perspective on Luminist paintings, but the differences between the perspectives are not in the treatment of nature as a more active or less active force. Rather, the difference between the perspectives is what the transcendental atmosphere of Luminist paintings represents: either nature as spiritual and tranquil or nature as domesticated and subdued by humans.
To support this new perspective that the author has presented us with, they outline the work of one Luminist artist: Fitz Hugh Lane. The author describes Lane's paintings of harbours and notes that the ships, not the sea, are the active elements in Lane's work, serving to illustrate the domestication of nature.
In this way, the author is presenting the work of one artist to illustrate the tradition of Luminist paintings, which they suggest differs from the generally accepted view. This is why answer choice (B) is correct.
This is also supported by the conclusion which runs from line 49 to the end of the passage. Lane illustrates the sea as a vessel for human activity and the transcendental atmosphere of his work illustrates nature's domesticity and human progress. This example is used to demonstrate why the author believes that the true significance of Luminist paintings is different from the generally accepted view and to demonstrate this artistic tradition as the author views it. The transcendental atmosphere of Luminist paintings does present an idealized version of the world, but this idealized portrayal treats nature as an environment in which to conduct business as opposed to an environment of spirituality and tranquility.
Hope this is helpful! Please let us know if you have any further questions.
SaphiFebruary 2, 2020
This awesome! I understand it now! Thanks Victoria :)
