Nor did these society people add to Elstir's work in their…
““Nor did these society people add to Elstir's work in their mind's eye that temporal perspective which enabled them to like, or at least to look without discomfort at, Chardin's painting. And yet the older among them might have reminded themselves that in the course of their lives they had gradually seen, as the years bore them away from it, the unbridgeable gulf between what they considered a masterpiece by Ingres and what they had supposed must forever remain a "horror" (Manet's Olympia , for example) shrink until the two canvases seemed like twins. But we never learn, because we lack the wisdom to work backwards from the particular to the general, and imagine ourselves always to be faced with an experience which has no precedents in the past.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
We struggle to understand new art because we lack the ability to relate specific experiences to broader historical context.
In simple terms: Understanding art needs broader perspective.
Key Takeaway
Seek historical context for new art.
Themes
art appreciation
history
perception
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- museum visits
- art education
- critical analysis
Key Concepts
aesthetic theory
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we broaden our artistic perspective?
- What role does history play in judging art?
A Different Perspective
Personal taste can limit openness to new styles.