What is the theme in The Diamond Mine by Willa Cather?

High class art is one of the themes in this short story. In many of her works, Cather explored what it meant to be an artist in the twentieth century. In works like "The Diamond Mine," Cather expresses one of her main views, that "high art," art that is done for the art's sake and not for money or fame, was the only type of art that could lead to a happy success. Throughout this story, the author plays with that idea. Cressida Garnet is a rich and famous artist, but she is also miserable.