The figures in portraits by the Spanish painter El Greco (1541–1614) a

First, let’s consider the structure of the passage:

• Some critics have concluded that Greco had an astigmatism (visual impairment) that caused him to paint people in a distorted way.
• This is because Greco’s paintings have figures that are systematically elongated.
• And that style is likely not intentional because it would have been unprecedented in Europe during Greco’s time.
• Nevertheless, the author concludes that an astigmatism CANNOT explain the distorted figure in Greco’s paintings.

We’re left to wonder why the author concludes the astigmatism could not explain Greco’s painting style. After all, if the style was unprecedented, then it seems very possible that an astigmatism could explain why Greco painted the way that he did. Moreover, it’s one thing to say that another explanation is likely. But the author goes further and concludes an astigmatism absolutely CANNOT explain Greco’s style.

The blank that logically completes the passage should tell us why the author does not think that an astigmatism can explain the elongated figures in Greco’s paintings. With that in mind, let’s consider the answer choices:


The fact that artists, hundreds of years after Greco, adopted Greco’s painting style does not necessarily suggest that Greco did not have an astigmatism. It indicates that it’s possible to paint elongated figures without a visual impairment, but it still does nothing to suggest that an astigmatism cannot explain Greco’s style. Eliminate (A).


Even if some people have elongated bodies like those in Greco’s portraits, the figures in Greco’s paintings are systematically elongated. Moreover, (B) only indicates that some people’s bodies are somewhat like those in Greco’s portraits. The force of the evidence provided by (B) is weak, and it certainly is not strong enough to conclude that an astigmatism cannot explain the elongated figures in Greco’s paintings. Eliminate (B).


(C) suggests that if Greco really had an astigmatism, then the elongated figures in his paintings would look different than the figures he saw in real life. This is interesting because the entire premise of the other critics’ argument is that Greco painted the way that he did because it would have matched how he saw people in everyday life. If this is not the case, then the elongated figures in Greco’s paintings would have looked unprecedented to him too. This means that Greco did not paint the way that he did merely because of his astigmatism. And an astigmatism would not explain Greco’s style. Let’s keep (C).


If there was no correction for astigmatism available when Greco lived, we have all the more reason to believe that it’s possible that an astigmatism affected Greco’s paintings. This is the opposite of what the author is arguing, so we can eliminate (D).


(E) is tempting. It suggests that it’s possible Greco was influenced by non-European artists who included intentionally distorted figures in their works. The problem is that this does not support the force with which the author argues for his/her conclusion. Sure, Greco could have been influenced by non-Europeans, but that doesn’t mean that an astigmatism CANNOT explain the elongated figures. Eliminate (E).

(C) is the only answer choice remaining, and it is correct.

I hope that helps!