The object of art is not to make salable pictures. It is…
““The object of art is not to make salable pictures. It is to save yourself. The fools who write articles about me think that one morning I suddenly decided to write and began to produce masterpieces. There is no special trick about writing or painting either. I wrote constantly for 15 years before I produced anything with any solidity to it… The thing of course, is to make yourself alive. Most people remain all of their lives in a stupor. The point of being an artist is that you may live… You won't arrive. It is an endless search.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Art's purpose is self‑discovery, not commercial success; creation is a lifelong, unfinished quest.
In simple terms: Art helps you find yourself, not to sell.
Key Takeaway
Create for personal truth, not profit.
Themes
self‑expression
creativity
purpose
Mood
introspective
philosophical
Type
creative
motivational
When to use this quote
- writing practice
- daily sketching
- long‑term projects
Key Concepts
existentialism
artistic integrity
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “making yourself alive” mean to you?
- Can art ever be both authentic and marketable?
A Different Perspective
Art may never be fully "; commercial pressures persist.