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Full Idea
My view that the essential quality in work of art is significant form was based on experience I am sure about. Of my view that significant form is the expression of a peculiar emotion felt for reality I am far from confident.
Gist of Idea
Significant form is the essence of art, which I believe expresses an emotion about reality
Source
Clive Bell (Art [1913], II.II)
Book Ref
Bell,Clive: 'Art' [nk 2010], p.36
A Reaction
It is hard to understand the idea of 'significant' form without a clear proposal for the nature of the significance. A detective doesn't stop at the point where evidence is seen as significant. Why should a 'peculiar' emotion matter?