  Du Bos is aware that his account of the pleasure we receive from art faces a serious objection. When the emotions we receive from viewing an imitation are positive, Du Bos’s account has a prima facie plausibility. Sometimes, however, as he recognizes, we receive unpleasant emotions from the experience of artistic imitations. Du Bos considers, for example, an imitation of the sacrifice of Jephthah’s daughter and Le Brun’s painting, Massacre of the Innocents. These works arouse negative emotions. Nevertheless, we willingly, even enthusiastically, experience the works. Our willingness to experience works that arouse negative emotions is often referred to as the paradox of tragedy.