Nineteenth-century art critics judged art by the realism of its method

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The first two sentences of the passage focus on realism as the standard used in past art criticism. The final sentence says that the twentieth century artistic revolution got rid of aesthetics of the kind that was defined by this standard. Thus, the first choice is the correct answer because it states this inference.

B is incorrect. The passage does not imply that primitive art was simple and hence could not imply anything about critics’ attitudes toward such simplicity. C is incorrect. The passage says that realism was rejected as the standard by which all art should be judged, not as a form of artistic representation. D is also incorrect. If it could be assumed that the nineteenth century standards include the traditional standards in their entirety, the passage would imply that the tradition is challenged rather than, as this choice states, reinforced. The last answer choice is incorrect. The passage does not imply that twentieth century critics understand the evolution or nature of art, only that they are free of a previous misconception.