Art is a medium that takes different forms every century. In the past century, Dadaism and Surrealism have left great footprints for the contemporary art we see today: minimalistic and abstract. There are many writers, artists, and other influential people who have their own views on what art is, as well as what it is good for a society or its creator.
20+ Inspirational Quotes and Thoughts on Art
Every artist sees the world differently and also sees art in their own way. In these artistic quotes and sayings below, you will see that art is not a sentence to be explained but is interpreted differently by each person:
1. “The artist sees what others only catch a glimpse of.” – Leonardo Davinci
The art of Leonardo Davinci is known for its extreme precision and grandeur. This is not surprising, because in addition to being an artist, he was also a scientist in anatomy (the human body) and optics (light and shadow).
2. “Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” – Henry Ward Beecher
Jean-Michel Basquiat: Using text and image
3. “The Painter tries to master color, while the musician is the master of time.” – Jean-Micheal Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American Neo-expressionist artist of the 1980s. He was known for his use of graffiti. His paintings often contained social criticism wrapped in symbolism.
4. “The painter tries to master color, but color is often the one who masters him!” – Wassily Kandinsky
5. “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” – Thomas Merton
6. “The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.” – Francis Bacon
7. “Art is the only way to do something well. Anything else is just getting by.” – Andy Warhol
Quotes From Woman On Art
The art world was long a male-dominated scene, with now famous female artists like Frida Kahlo having to fight for recognition. In the 21st century, discrimination against women still exists, including in the art world.
8. “My mother was against me being an artist. She just wanted me to marry a rich man.” – Yayoi Kusama
9. “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.” – George O’Keeffe
10. “The artist must not only apply paint to canvas but also be a mirror to the soul.” – Berthe Morisot
11. “Everyone has his own style. When you have found it, you should stick to it.” – Audrey Hepburne
12. “Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.” ― Twyla Tharp.
13. “The only thing I’m afraid of is that I won’t have enough time to paint all the beautiful things I want to paint.” – Georgia O’Keeffe
Different Perspectives On Art:
14.“Art is the most beautiful of all lies.”
15. The more I paint, the more I like everything.” – Pierre-Auguste Renoir
One of the most prominent French Impressionists, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, loved using lots of color and capturing the essence of the moment in his paintings. He loved to paint people; Two Sisters (On the Terrace) is a famous work of his.
“Why shouldn’t art be pretty? There are enough unpleasant things in the world.” – Pierre-Auguste Renoir
16. “Art is the lie that enables us to realise the truth.” – Pablo Picasso
17. “Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.” – Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde had a distinctive take on art, placing a strong emphasis on its independence and aesthetic worth while playing down the importance of moral or utilitarian factors. In Wilde’s view, the value of art lay in its beauty and uniqueness. His clever and paradoxical expressions added a touch of wit to his distinctive perspective on how art should be perceived and its role within society.
18. “Art is a line around your thoughts.” – Gustav Klimt
19. “Art is a harmony parallel with nature.” – Paul Cézanne
Paul Cézanne played a crucial role in bridging the gap between 19th-century Impressionism and 20th-century Cubism. His emphasis on form, structure, and the artist’s interpretation of nature had a lasting impact on the perception of art as we know it today.
20. “The essence of all art is to have pleasure in giving pleasure.” – Dale Carnegie
21. “The artist’s job is to be a witness to his time in history.” – Robert Rauschenberg
The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche was a true lover of art as well as an art critic. He was a strong advocate of the individual choices and artistic virtuosity of the artist, who was allowed to tell his own story without rules. In addition, he was a great advocate of ancient Greek tragedy as an art form.
22. “Art is the proper task of life. ” – Friedrich Nietzsche
23. “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” – Edgar Degas
French artist Edgar Degas (1834-1917) was a great believer in capturing everyday life, especially theater, horse racing, and dancers. His style fell under Impressionism, which he simultaneously disliked. He did not like the Impressionist way of painting, with loose brushstrokes.
