Art is like religion in that it represents something that is beyond the reach of empiricism. The element of fantasy is inextinguishable. Spinoza made the chief distinction that religion, unlike superstition, was founded on knowledge rather than ignorance. But what if, in stark contrast to things forged from knowledge, art is, at times, profoundly further from knowledge than it appears? And there, we might see that art isn't necessarily deep; it's just a mirror, and the mind is an abyss. Yes, I say this as someone who both appreciates and creates art. Criticizing art; classic artist move.