The painting know as red star at night depicts a red star shining prom

Question

The painting know as red star at night depicts a red star shining prominently over a farmhouse on a hill. The painting has long been believed to be work of the 19th century french artist jean paul lapierre, because the red paint used for the star matches the paint lapierre used to highlight important elements in several of his other works. This belief must be incorrect, because lapierre painted from direct observations of his subject and the stars and constellations depicted in the painting were not visible ion france during lapierre's lifeitme.

Each of the following, if true, would weaken the argument against the long-held belief about the painting's origin except

A) Many artists of the 19th century used each others' work as subjects painting the same sense but incorporating their own stylistic elements.

B) Lapierre often travelled widely to meet artists in other countries and learn form their methods and exp.

C) the red paint used in Red Star at night was available only in france during the 19th century.

D) lapierre's support for radical political movements led the french govt. to exile him in north Africa for the last four years of his life

E) in some of his paintings, lapierre added imaginary elements to the otherwise accurate representaitons of his subjects.

I'm really confused with this question. I believe we need to find an answer which says lapierre painted the painting (Long held belief: lapierre painted, weaken means: lapierre didn't paint, exception: option supporting least that la pierre did not paint => la pierre painted).
The OA doesn't reflect this reasoning. Experts please help!

sdlife · Accepted Answer

So, the goal in these type of questions is to find 4 answers that weaken the conclusion and the correct answer (could strengthen or   NOT DO ANYTHING  ) to the conclusion.

Core of the argument:  lapierre only used red paint for direct observations and stars were not visible in France --> She didn't paint that painting

Goal:  Find ways to weaken this - meaning that find answers that will make us believe that lapierre actually painted this.

A) Many artists of the 19th century used each others' work as subjects painting the same sense but incorporating their own stylistic elements.
 If the artists are using each other paintings as subjects, then lapierre must have used someone else's work as subject and still use her red paint. Because the premise says "lapierre painted from direct observations of his subject" -- so in this case the subject could be someone else's work. Hence, this weakens the conclusion.

B) Lapierre often travelled widely to meet artists in other countries and learn form their methods and exp.
 If she did travel to other countries, she must have direct observation for those stars and drew the painting. Hence, this weakens the conclusion.
 
C) the red paint used in Red Star at night was available only in france during the 19th century.
 So what? Some other painted could have gotten that paint from France and painted it. This doesn't help weaken the conclusion or in other words make us believe that lapierre painted it. Please note that this doesn't strengthen the conclusion that lapierre painted it because we are given that lapierre when he/she sees it directly. Our goal is to find ways to weaken that reasoning. This answer doesn't help us weaken that reasoning, while the other 4 does. So, in a way I'd say this belongs to the category of answer which doesn't strengthen/weaken the conclusion.

D) lapierre's support for radical political movements led the french govt. to exile him in north Africa for the last four years of his life
 If she was exiled to Africa, she must have painted from there. Hence, this weakens the conclusion.
 
E) in some of his paintings, lapierre added imaginary elements to the otherwise accurate representaitons of his subjects.
 If this were true, she could have imagined those stars and painted those in red. Hence, this weakens the conclusion.

Hope this helps!

Raj30 · Answer

Thank you! I misinterpreted the question. I thought we're supposed to weaken the long held belief whereas actually we're supposed to weaken the argument made against the belief.

tarunrathi999 · Answer

Conclusion - This belief must be incorrect which means jean paul lapierre didn't paint

C) the red paint used in Red Star at night was available only in france during the 19th century

helps to clarify he painted it

yashsharma1 · Answer

I selected C, which is the correct answer. But I have a point against option D as well. Similar to how in option C, just because red paint was available only in France does not mean only Lapierre could have painted the painting. Some other French painter or wandering artist might have given it a shot, in option D, how can the fact that he was exiled to Africa mean that painting was made by him? Were these constellations present as inspiration in Africa? There is no relevant info that supports that painting was made by Lapierre and hence this is as good of a contender for the correct answer.  KarishmaB  can you help?

egmat · Answer

Hi yashsharma1,

You're right that D doesn't  prove  the constellations were visible in Africa. But here's the thing: a weakener never has to prove anything. It just has to open a crack in the argument, and D and C crack very different things.

Look at what the argument actually leans on:

-  Premise 1:  Lapierre "painted from direct observations of his subject."
-  Premise 2:  those stars "were not visible  in France  during Lapierre's lifetime."

The whole case against him is:  those stars weren't in the French sky, and he only painted what he saw  - so he couldn't have painted them.

Why D weakens:  exile to North Africa puts him under a  different sky . The night sky over North Africa is not the same as the one over France, so stars invisible from France could well have been visible from there. That directly chips at Premise  2  - the "not visible in France" fact no longer blocks him, because he wasn't in France. You don't need it confirmed that those exact stars hung over Africa; you only need a plausible route by which direct observation becomes possible again. That's enough to weaken.

Why C doesn't:  the argument never claims "only Lapierre could get this paint." So attacking that isn't the argument's real link. C says the red paint was available  only in France  - if anything, that plants the painting  in France , exactly where the argument says these stars can't be seen. It leaves both premises fully intact, so the reasoning against Lapierre stands untouched.

So your instinct - "this doesn't prove Lapierre painted it" - is true of D, but that's the wrong bar. The bar is:  does it loosen a premise?  D loosens Premise  2 ; C loosens nothing.

Quick gut check on the standard: if a choice said "Lapierre once sailed to the southern hemisphere," would that weaken? Yes - same move as D, a new sky, no proof required. That's the difference you're looking for.

Answer: C

KarishmaB · Answer

Here is an important point - we don't have to strengthen that Lapierre painted it. We have to weaken that Lapierre did not paint it. We have to weaken that because this star was not visible in France at his time, he did not paint this painting.

Now (D) tell us pretty much what (B) tells us - that Lapierre spent time outside France. So he COULD have still painted it. So we are weakening that "Lapierre did not paint it."

The painting know as red star at night depicts a red star shining prom

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The painting know as red star at night depicts a red star shining prom

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