Art Quotes

It is the function of art to renew our perception. What we are familiar with we cease to see. The writer shakes up the familiar scene, and as if by magic, we see a new meaning in it.

It is only an auctioneer who can equally and impartially admire all schools of Art.

It is not accidental that our greatest art is intimate and not monumental.[Es ist weder zufällig, daß unsere höchste Kunst eine intime und keine monumentale ist.]

In judging of a beautiful statue the aesthetic faculty is absolutely and completely gratified by the splendid curves of those marble lips that are dumb to our complaint, the noble modelling of those limbs that are powerless to help us.

In general, the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one part of the citizens to give to the other.[En général, l’art du gouvernement consiste à prendre le plus d’argent qu’on peut à une grande partie des citoyens, pour le donner à une autre partie.]

In designing the scenery and costumes for any of Shakespeare’s plays, the first thing the artist has to settle is the best date for the drama. This should be determined by the general spirit of the play, more than by any actual historical references which may occur in it.

In art the best is good enough.

If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,” then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.

If the world were clear, art would not exist.[Si le monde était clair, l’art ne serait pas.]

If only we could pull out our brain and use only our eyes.[Si tan solo pudiéramos sacar nuestro cerebro y usar solo nuestros ojos.]

If art reflects life, then it does so with special mirrors.[Wenn die Kunst das Leben abspiegelt, tut sie es mit besonderen Spiegeln.]

If art does not enlarge men’s sympathies, it does nothing morally.