From Zeuxis’ Helen of Troy to Molière’s Le Misanthrope: Kant and Artistic Exemplars

The paper claims that, unlike art theorists before him, Kant intentionally refrains from using exemplary artworks in his theorizing about art. The reason for this lies in his commitment to artistic cognitivism and to the autonomy required for the creation and the appreciation of artistic beauty. I claim that such exemplars are well known to him, specifically Zeuxis’ Helene of Troy and Molière’s Le Misanthrope – notable exemplars of artistic creation for formalists (in the former case) and cognitivists (in the latter). I tie Kant’s exclusion of exemplars to his important rejection of methods in the creation and appreciation of fine art. In sum, I aim to explain why Kant speaks so little about actual artworks.