This quote from the first chapter of "The Ways of Seeing" perfectly captures Berger's stance on Art elitism in today's society. Today's elite defend the upper class of the past, seeing the masterpieces left behind as their cultural inheritance. By doing this, the artwork itself is mystified to the masses, which is a shame when one considers the useful lessons that can be gleaned from interpreting various masterpieces. Berger goes on to discuss the effect reproductions have had on the art world, specifically how they have destroyed the authority previously held by the cultural elite. "What the modern means of reproduction have done is to destroy the authority of art and to remove it- or, rather, to remove its images which they reproduce- from any preserve" (Berger 32). However in the next paragraph Berger laments that although this ancient control has been broken, precious few realize or even care that this shift has occurred. Those who are now free to access reproductions through various platforms have not seized the cultural opportunity to make the masterpieces of the past their own, free of the narrowing view applied by those who would mystify the past. This freedom granted by reproduction will be revisited later, when discussing Jan Brueghel's "The Allegory of Taste".
Later on in his essay, Berger states that "Mystification is the process of explaining away what might otherwise be evident" (Berger 15-16). What is obvious to the eye and sensibility is often dismissed, and a deeper meaning is sought after. However in many cases there is no need to search for a deeper more profound meaning, when the artist has painted what he wants the world to see. As Berger states in his television series, mystification is linked with value, in that the more a piece is worth, the harder people work to create unique meanings. Famous pieces are elevated to the level of holy relics, protected behind layers of glass, and this level of renown mystifies even further.
