LSAT 106 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q24

LR Question 24 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Surviving seventeenth century Dutch landscapes…

QUESTION TYPE: Strengthen

CONCLUSION: We’ve probably mislabeled some 17th century Dutch landscape paintings.

REASONING: Equal numbers of 17th century Dutch landscape paintings are attributed to major and minor artists.

But there were many minor artists and only a few major artists who painted landscape paintings.

ANALYSIS: This sounds like a good argument. But there a few possible flaws we can eliminate to strengthen the argument.

First, it could be that the major artists painted many more paintings than minor artists. They typically had whole workshops of assistants to help them paint faster.

Second, it could be that collectors have been much more likely to save paintings by major artists. So even though more minor paintings were painted, more major paintings have survived.

The correct answer takes a different approach. It shows that many minor artists allowed their work to pass as the work of a major artist.

___________

1. Minor artists could have been technically gifted. Since this answer doesn’t distinguish between the two types of artists, it isn’t useful.
2. This shows that major artists didn’t have to paint everything on their own. It slightly weakens the argument by showing one way major artists could have produced more paintings. (I say “slightly” weakened because it’s possible minor artists also had many assistants.)
3. This weakens the argument. Even though more minor paintings were created, a higher percentage of major paintings survived.
4. CORRECT. This shows that many “major” paintings are forgeries.
5. This shows that both minor and major paintings have disappeared. But since this answer affects both types equally, it doesn’t affect the argument.