Art is a subjective thing, and it should be a subjective thing. And the difficulty of subjectivity is that it becomes hugely problematized when you start applying large sums of money to art objects. That's where it all starts to get a bit sticky.

Theatre critics have no special access to the truth. And there should be no objective truth to art.

Uncertainty is a very good thing: it's the beginning of an investigation, and the investigation should never end.

Where large sums of money are concerned, it is advisable to trust nobody.

A hundred francs! Oh, dear me! It is worth millions of francs, my child. But my -- dealer -- here tells me that in fact a picture is worth only what someone will give for it. How much money do you have?"
Julia took out her purse and counted. "Four francs and twenty sous," she said, looking up at him sadly.
"Is that all the money you have in the world?"
She nodded.
"Then four francs and twenty sous it is.

'The Author' is subtly unflinching in its satirical attack on certain practices in the creation of art and the mediation of violence.