Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 5
—Thatyoutoldmeafewnightsago,saidLynch,andwebeganthefamousdiscussion.
—Ihaveabookathome,saidStephen,inwhichIhavewrittendownquestionswhicharemoreamusingthanyourswere.InfindingtheanswerstothemIfoundthetheoryofestheticwhichIamtryingtoexplain.HerearesomequestionsIsetmyself:ISACHAIRFINELYMADETRAGICORCOMIC?ISTHEPORTRAITOFMONALISAGOODIFIDESIRETOSEEIT?IFNOT,WHYNOT?
—Whynot,indeed?saidLynch,laughing.
—IFAMANHACKINGINFURYATABLOCKOFWOOD,Stephencontinued,MAKETHEREANIMAGEOFACOW,ISTHATIMAGEAWORKOFART?IFNOT,WHYNOT?
—That’salovelyone,saidLynch,laughingagain.Thathasthetruescholasticstink.
—Lessing,saidStephen,shouldnothavetakenagroupofstatuestowriteof.Theart,beinginferior,doesnotpresenttheformsIspokeofdistinguishedclearlyonefromanother.Eveninliterature,thehighestandmostspiritualart,theformsareoftenconfused.Thelyricalformisinfactthesimplestverbalvestureofaninstantofemotionarhythmicalcrysuchasagesagocheeredonthemanwhopulledattheoarordraggedstonesupaslope.Hewhouttersitismoreconsciousoftheinstantofemotionthanofhimselfasfeelingemotion.
