Explain what is valuable and what is imagined
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
For Nolan, the intrinsic pleasure of arranging shapes belonged to the activity itself, even when nobody offered a prize or public praise. A small exhibition could also have merit because its thoughtful selection invited viewers to notice connections among the works. His friend's visionary proposal imagined a network of shared neighborhood galleries, a possibility far beyond their immediate display. They admired the imaginative reach while asking which useful first step could support it, keeping future ambition connected to the work already within their power.
Nolan found intrinsic satisfaction in revising a composition, so a quiet afternoon of work could matter without increasing his public profile. The display's merit depended on its qualities and the reasons offered for them, rather than simply on the fame of the artists involved. His friend's visionary idea prompted questions about future cooperation but still needed practical detail about spaces, roles, and time. The pair kept the ambitious proposal as a direction to explore while judging their first display by what it actually achieved.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.