Of course, it is well to go abroad and see the works of…
“Of course, it is well to go abroad and see the works of the old masters, but Americans... must strike out for themselves, and only by doing this will we create a great and distinctly American art.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
American art must be forged independently, not merely copied from European masters.
In simple terms: Create uniquely American art through original effort.
Cultivate distinct artistic identity.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- art education
- museum visits
- personal experimentation
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can artists balance learning from masters with originality?
- What defines a distinctly national art?
Copying alone cannot sustain artistic innovation.