Quotes About Art

Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.

To elevate the soul, poetry is necessary.

With me poetry has been not a purpose, but a passion; and the passions should be held in reverence: they must not—they cannot at will be excited, with an eye to the paltry compensations, or the more paltry commendations, of mankind.

With me poetry has not been a purpose, but a passion.

The death of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world.

Were I called on to define, very briefly, the term Art, I should call it 'the reproduction of what the Senses perceive in Nature through the veil of the soul.' The mere imitation, however accurate, of what is in Nature, entitles no man to the sacred name of 'Artist.'

A picture is something which requires as much knavery, trickery, and deceit as the perpetration of a crime. Paint falsely, and then add the accent of nature.

Art is vice. You don't marry it legitimately, you rape it.

It is all very well to copy what one sees, but it is far better to draw what one now only sees in one's memory. That is a transformation in which imagination collaborates with memory.

Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do.

The museums are here to teach the history of art and something more as well, for, if they stimulate in the weak a desire to imitate, they furnish the strong with the means of their emancipation.

Only when he no longer knows what he is doing does the painter do good things.

A painting requires a little mystery, some vagueness, and some fantasy. When you always make your meaning perfectly plain you end up boring people

Art is vice. You don't wed it, you rape it.

Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do.

Muses work all day long and then at night get together and dance...

Art critic! Is that a profession? When I think we are stupid enough, we painters, to solicit those people's compliments and to put ourselves into their hands! What shame! Should we even accept that they talk about our work?

My art, what do you want to say about it? Do you think you can explain the merits of a picture to those who do not see them? . . . I can find the best and clearest words to explain my meaning, and I have spoken to the most intelligent people about art, and they have not understood; but among people who understand, words are not necessary, you say humph, he, ha and everything has been said.

Art is vice. You don't marry it legitimately, you rape it.

The creation of a painting takes as much trickery and premeditation as the commitment of a crime.

Art isn't something you marry. It's something you rape.

Rien en art ne doit ressembler à un accident, même le mouvement.

Out of me unworthy and unknownThe vibrations of deathless music.

To this generation I would say: Memorize some bit of verse of truth or beauty.