Does the greatness of art lie in its ability to be understood ?

Some of most celebrated works of art, those that elicit the most profound reactions in each of us, possess elements which elude comprehension. In many cases it is this elusive quality that sets a work of art apart from the rest in its genre. The 'Monalisa' or the Jaconde, one of the most famous paintings in the world possesses this very quality. Is the lady smiling?...or almost?...is a question even connosieurs of art are divided in opinion over.Even the landscape that is the backdrop of the painting has been the subject of many discussions.The painting also has several contradicting elements interwoven into it- the hands of the subject are relaxed, but the rest of her posture suggests a formal rigidity, which is also at odds with her smile.It has been said that the Monalisa reflects to each person his or her own current emotional state.These elements of the painting cannot be understood by the uninitiated, only experienced.
Therefore it is my opinion that art in any form need not be understood to be appreciated. Each artistic creation is a rendition of a concept, an ideaology, an emotion, an event...sometimes an amalgamation of all of these. A layperson cannot be expected to understand or even recognize the interplay between these elements in art, only experience them in their completeness, as a whole.It is not necessary, in order to enjoy a creme brulee to know how its prepared, to savour its perfect flavour, and respond to that stimulus is enough.
It can be argued that to understand a work art along with all its details, to understand its origins, its meaning and the intricacies of a genre make for a deeper, more satisfying experience. But, general existing trends contradict this contention.Most people today prefer modern art, which is more abstract than its conventional counterparts be it in sculpture, painting, photography or any other medium. While conventional art forms usually elicit standard responses, modern art is viewed, understood and differently by different people. In traditional forms, a lake is a lake, a lady is a lady and the picture a flower is just that, the picture of a flower, but in modern art, what a painting depicts is not as easily discernible, because of the simple reason that in these art forms, entities are not made to resemble their actual images. They meanings of such works of art are implied. This makes them harder to understand. But,an increasing number of people prefer modern art forms to their traditional counterparts. This alone refutes the argument that art has to be understood to be great.
Most great art and most works of art that have garnered attention through the generations have not been understood by the masses.They have been appreciated and lauded based mostly on their aesthetic appeal as a whole, the overall reaction they elicit from a person observing them, be it a symphony or a painting.And perhaps their greatness lies therein.