A work of art may be understood as a conductor from the artist's mind to the viewer's. But it may never reach the viewer, or it may never leave the artist's mind.
Sol LewittRead
All intervening steps, scribbles, sketches, drawings, failed work models, studies thoughts, conversations, are of interest. Those that show the thought process of the artist are sometimes more interesting than the final product
Interpretation
What this quote means
The process of creation is often as valuable as the final artwork itself.
Sol Lewitt emphasizes the importance of the creative process in art, suggesting that the various stages an artist goes through—such as sketches, models, and discussions—can be more revealing and meaningful than the finished piece. This perspective invites appreciation for the journey of creativity and the evolution of ideas that lead to the final outcome.
Themes
ArtProcessCreationCreativityJourney
In practice
Example use cases
In an art critique, one might use this quote to highlight the significance of an artist's creative journey.
More from Sol Lewitt
All quotes →Once it is out of his hand the artist has no control over the way a viewer will perceive the work. Different people will understand the same thing in a different way.
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The system is the work of art; the visual work of art is the proof of the System. The visual aspect can't be understood without understanding the system. It isn't what it looks like but what it is that is of basic importance.
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Artists are mystics rather than rationalists. They leap to conclusions that logic cannot reach.
Sol LewittRead
Buying books was a way anyone could acquire a work of art for very little.
Sol LewittRead
Unless you're involved with thinking about what you're doing, you end up doing the same thing over and over, and that becomes tedious and, in the end, defeating.
Sol LewittRead
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