Final answer:
The question 'When a thing is hidden, it is sublime?' refers to the aesthetic concept of the Sublime in the arts, particularly literature and visual arts. The concept suggests that hidden or veiled elements can evoke a profound sense of awe and wonder, engaging the viewer's or reader's imagination. Artworks and literature that explore these themes are often seen as sublime.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'When a thing is hidden, it is sublime?' touches upon the philosophical and aesthetic concept of the Sublime, which pertains to the arts, particularly in the context of literature and visual arts. The Sublime refers to an aesthetic quality that invokes a sense of greatness or grandeur, often beyond all possibility of calculation, measurement, or imitation, and is commonly associated with feelings of awe, reverence, and sometimes fear. The notion suggests that when something is hidden or veiled, it may invoke the Sublime because it engages the imagination to conceive what lies beyond the immediately perceivable.
Artworks and literature often explore the Sublime by presenting the viewer or reader with scenes or ideas that are overwhelming or beyond human comprehension. The state of being hidden serves to amplify the mysterious and powerful characteristics of the object or idea in question, which can be seen in the use of fog, veils, and shadows in various examples of visual and literary arts.
In the context provided, references to the Sublime span from Edmund Burke's emphasis on the presence of God in nature, to the mysterious and provocative elements in art and literature that elicit profound emotional responses. Subtlety, secrecy, and the interplay between visibility and invisibility are all aspects that can contribute to a sublime experience.