What is the fundamental purpose of art in human society and how should it be evaluated? Leo Tolstoy, drawing upon his background as a renowned novelist and his later life as a moral philosopher, argues that art must serve as a vehicle for the transmission of religious and moral feelings to improve humanity. He rejects the pursuit of beauty as the primary objective of artistic creation, proposing instead a rigorous standard based on the clarity and sincerity of the emotional connection between the artist and the audience.

Scholars and critics frequently note the provocative and iconoclastic nature of Tolstoy's arguments, which challenge established canons of Western art. The text is widely recognized as a significant, albeit controversial, contribution to the philosophy of aesthetics that demands engagement with the author's moral worldview.