Quotes about Art

“An empty canvas is a living wonder... far lovelier than certain pictures.”

“A great artist is always before his time or behind it.”

“We live in an age when the traditional great subjects - the human form, the landscape, even newer traditions such as abstract expressionism - are daily devalued by commercial art.”

“Art is accusation, expression, passion. Art is a fight to the finish between black charcoal and white paper.”

“Politeness is the art of choosing among your thoughts.”

“The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity.”

“Art consists of reshaping life, but it does not create life nor cause life.”

“Politics separate men by bringing them together only superficially. Art and culture unite us in a common anguish that is our only possible fraternity, that of our existential and metaphysical community.”

“Contrary to general belief, an artist is never ahead of his time but most people are far behind theirs.”

“The value of art is in the observer.”

“Science may be described as the art of systematic over-simplification.”

“Literature is the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people, and saying with ordinary words something extraordinary.”

“Art is one thing that can go on mattering once it has stopped hurting.”

“One does not need buildings, money, power, or status to practice the Art of Peace. Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train.”

“The art of acceptance is the art of making someone who has just done you a small favor wish that he might have done you a greater one.”

“I prefer drawing to talking. Drawing is faster, and leaves less room for lies.”

“A critic should be taught to criticise a work of art without making any reference to the personality of the author.”

“Jazz is the art of thinking out loud.”

“You begin with the possibilities of the material.”

“Ethics is in origin the art of recommending to others the sacrifices required for cooperation with oneself.”

“Art is not for the cultivated taste. It is to cultivate taste.”