Though considered aesthetically primitive at the time, Henri

Good question ... Can you tell the source ?

If I am not wrong its from the MGMAT Question Bank

it is not the artist that was considered aesthetically primitive - therefore, A and C are out.
B looks good, as it conveys the intended meaning - it is the artist who became an icon of post-impressionism, not his canvases. Because of this same reason, D and E are out.

B is the answer.

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The original sentence begins with a modifier ("though considered aesthetically primitive at the time") that logically addresses Rousseau's art. But the grammatical subject of the modifier is Rousseau himself. This is incorrect. Moreover, the use of "like" in the phrase "painted like he was naive" is incorrect. "Like" is not synonymous with "as if". For example, "She dances like she's never heard music before" is incorrect, but "She dances as if she's never heard music before" is correct.
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) CORRECT. Henri Rousseau's canvasses are correctly placed as the subject of the opening modifier. Additionally, "naive" functions as an adjective describing "style" thereby replacing the incorrect phrase "like he were naive."
(C) This choice incorrectly places Henri Rousseau (instead of his paintings) as the subject of the opening modifier "though considered aesthetically primitive . . ." Additionally, the phrase "style that has become an icon of Post-Impressionism" is incorrect. Rousseau, not his style, later became an icon.
(D) The phrase "style that was later iconic of Post- Impressionism" is both awkward ("iconic of") and incorrect. Rousseau, not his style, later became an icon.
(E) The subject "the canvases of Henri Rousseau are icons of Post-Impressionism" is incorrect. Rousseau, not his style, later became an icon. Moreover, this choice incorrectly uses "due to" where "because of" would be needed. Due to" functions as an adjectival phrase and is used to modify a noun (e.g., His failure was due to his laziness.). "Because of" functions as an adverbial phrase and is used to modify a verb or verb phrase (e.g., He failed because of his laziness.).

The ol’ dangling modifier SC. Ok, people, let’s knock this one out.

Though considered aesthetically primitive at the time, Henri Rousseau has become an iconic figure of Post-Impressionism for his dream-like canvases painted like he was naive.

A quick read through let’s you know that although a certain artist’s canvases (just mentally translate that to paintings) were considered primitive at one time, they helped to establish the artist as an incon later on.

(A) Henri Rousseau has become an iconic figure of Post- Impressionism for his dream-like canvases painted like he was naive.

Was Henri considered aesthetically primitive? Nope! His canvasas were. Keep an eye on what follows that first clause and comma, people. Also, in case you missed it, that last part LIKE HE WAS NAIVE is also an easy way to eliminate. The NAIVE element is supposed to modify the painting style not the author’s character or personality.

(B) Henri Rousseau’s canvases, painted in a naive, dream-like style, later established the artist as an icon of Post-Impressionism.

Sounds good, though it is a little awkward in how specific it is. I think there is a tendency to be so critical sometimes that one can find a problem in anything. Even though I chose this as the correct answer after going through all the options, right now I’m thinking: how do we know Henri painted these canvases. He may have simply made them and someone else could have painted them. Plant a yellow flag on this during the actual exam, people, and go through the rest. As it stands the initial starting off point HENRI ROUSSEU’S CANVASES is correct.

(C) Henri Rousseau painted canvases in a naive, dream-like style that has become an icon of Post-Impressionism.

See (A). This is a freebie elimination since it starts off with the artist not his canvases. Also I think that HAS BECOME might be better as BECAME.

(D) Henri Rousseau’s canvases were painted in a naive, dream- like style that was later iconic of Post-Impressionism.

This is a close one. But if you read the flow of the sentence you get the impression that the STYLE OF the Artist was already well-lnown before the artist started painting with it. And after he made his canvases they LATER THAN THAT became icornic. It’s a meaning basied elimination, people. I know. Not nice. But the timeline is a nonsensical here.

(E) the canvases of Henri Rousseau are icons of Post- Impressionism due to being painted in a naive, dream-like style.

A useful tip is to replace DUE to with CAUSED BY. Try it and see how the sentence pans out. Would you say that the canvases are icons since they were CAUSED
BY being painted etc etc. Sounds awkward, right? I’d plant a yellow flag on this if I was being uber conservative.

(B) Henri Rousseau’s canvases, painted in a naive, dream-like style, later established the artist as an icon of Post-Impressionism.
(D) Henri Rousseau’s canvases were painted in a naive, dream- like style that was later iconic of Post-Impressionism.

This question would never pop up on the real GMAT. Both of these constructions are not awfully wrong and the rationale of eliminating an answer choice based on 'sounds awkward' is never justified. Both answer choices present a completely different meaning but both meanings can well be justified.

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