To end up with a canvas that is no less beautiful than the empty canvas is to begin with.
Robert MotherwellRead
A main part of the struggle of art has been to make an art that is direct, simple, humane, unconnected with powers that be in their essence... To the degree that it is connected with the bourgeoisie via the marketplace and so on is not necessarily an artist's problem.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of creating art that remains authentic and unbound by societal or market pressures.
Robert Motherwell highlights the struggle artists face in producing work that is straightforward, humane, and free from the influence of oppressive power structures. He suggests that while art may inevitably intersect with the commercial interests of society, the core challenge rests in the artist's ability to stay true to their vision and purpose, rather than succumbing to the demands of the bourgeois marketplace.
Themes
ArtMarketplaceBourgeoisieAuthenticityExpression
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a speech about the values of artistic integrity in today's commercialized world.
More from Robert Motherwell
All quotes →It's not that the creative act and the critical act are simultaneous. It's more like you blurt something out and then analyze it.
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Art is an experience, not an object.
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Art is much less important than life, but what a poor life without it.
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