DISCUSSION: Lines 23-28 are key to understanding this passage. The author asks a question: are forgeries necessarily inferior?
The parts of the passage before that question merely sets the stage. And paragraphs 3 and 4 answer the question: Yes, forgeries are inferior. They do not have the originality of vision that authentic art has. This answer is the main point.
___________
- This contradicts the passage. The author agrees that The Disciples at Emmaus was a beautiful painting. See lines 17-21.
- This answer misquotes the passage by saying that intangible characteristics determine aesthetic value. Line 29-35 instead say that intangible characteristics such as originality determine artistic value. These two things are similar, but not identical.
- CORRECT. You can’t really cite specific lines to prove this answer. But taken as a whole, the 3rd and 4th paragraphs support this.
You might object: but what about paragraphs 1 and 2? Well, those paragraphs set the stage for the question asked in lines 23-28: are forgeries necessarily inferior?
Paragraphs 3 and 4 are Lessing’s answer to this question. And this answer summarizes Lessing’s argument, so it is the main point. - This wasn’t the point of the passage. At best this describes the first paragraph. Though even then we don’t know if many skilled forgers can deceive experts. Maybe Van Meegeren was uniquely talented in this respect.
- This contradicts the passage. In lines 17-21 the author says The Disciples at Emmaus must have had merit because art experts were enthusiastic about it. This shows the author believes art experts are at least good aesthetic judges.
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