stics of different nationalities
or races.

From their time down to our own, then, this conception of art, as being
coloured or affected strongly and continually by nationality, has become
almost a commonplace of criticism, and it will not be denied that there
is real importance in the conception. For though nothing is really art
which is not distinctive and personal and unique, yet just so far as the
personality of the artist is conditioned by his nationality, so far also
will his artistic work reflect the characteristics of his nation or
country. And yet, while this is true, it really needs very little
consideration to see that when we consider a great work of art, we are
very little concerned with the question of the nationality of the
artist, but with something which is deeper and larger than his
nationality. The great artist no doubt represents life under the forms
or terms of his concrete experience, but it is life and the world itself
which he represents. He is not greatly concerned with the merely
superficial or passing aspects of human nature and the world, but with
that which is essential and continuing under these terms.

It may indeed be urged that there is some real and fundamental
difference between the art of the East and that of the West, but as we
have come to know eastern art better, we have become more doubtful even
of this, and are rather impressed with the unity of the artistic
expression even of East and West. I am far from wishing to say that
nationality or race has no significance in art, but I think that we have
been in danger of greatly exaggerating its importance. I am at least
certain that we have very constantly made too much of the supposed
differences in the literature and art of the different European
countries, and that we must make clear to ourselves that European art
and literature are really one.

It is not unimportant to observe this at the present time, to consider
whether literature and art are dividing or uniting forces. As far as we
can understand, what indeed seems a little unintelligible, the Germans
desire to impress upon Europe their culture or civilization, an attempt
as absurd as it would be impossible, for German culture is, after all,
only a part of the great European civilization, and the part cannot take
the place of the whole. But on the other hand it is not less important
for us to understand that what we desire to do is not to destroy those
elements which Germany