Why do you think the Rebbe allowed Asher Lev to pursue his artistic gift under the mentorship of Jacob Kahn instead of forbidding him under the guise of religious orthodoxy?

I believe that Rebbe thought Asher's work with Kahn would be helpful to Asher. Asher's gift was is its own way an obsession.... it was compulsive. In my opinion, Rebbe hoped that studying with Kahn would teach Asher to channel the gift..... to control it, rather than having it control him.