---
title: "1 Artist Duty Quotes By J. E. H. MacDonald"
description: "1 Artist Duty quotes by J. E. H. MacDonald. Plus more from J. E. H. MacDonald and more Artist Duty sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1a/j-e-h-macdonald-51205_art_if-the-function-of-the-artist-is-to-see_904500.png"
---

> [If the function of the artist is to see, the first duty of the critic is to understand what the artist saw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-e-h-macdonald/if-the-function-of-the-artist-is-to-see-the-first-duty-of-the-critic/)

[J. E. H. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-e-h-macdonald/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1a/j-e-h-macdonald-51205_art_if-the-function-of-the-artist-is-to-see_904500.png)

## More by J. E. H. MacDonald

> [I have memories of the clearest crystal mountain days imaginable, when we fortunates in the height seemed to be sky people living in light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-e-h-macdonald/i-have-memories-of-the-clearest-crystal-mountain-days-imaginable-when/)

[J. E. H. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-e-h-macdonald/)

> [If the function of the artist is to see, the first duty of the critic is to understand what the artist saw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-e-h-macdonald/if-the-function-of-the-artist-is-to-see-the-first-duty-of-the-critic/)

[J. E. H. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-e-h-macdonald/)

> [Snow and reflections were beautiful but transient effects and other difficulties were beyond me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-e-h-macdonald/snow-and-reflections-were-beautiful-but-transient-effects-and-other/)

[J. E. H. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-e-h-macdonald/)

> [Made a sketch later on the cabin verandah, but it was impossible to keep up with the changes. Oh the difficulties of mountain art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-e-h-macdonald/made-a-sketch-later-on-the-cabin-verandah-but-it-was-impossible-to/)

[J. E. H. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-e-h-macdonald/)

> [It is the work of the Canadian artist to paint or play or write in such a way that life will be enlarged for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-e-h-macdonald/it-is-the-work-of-the-canadian-artist-to-paint-or-play-or-write-in/)

[J. E. H. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-e-h-macdonald/)

> [One felt that the mountains are not completed. The builders are still at work. Stones come rolling and jumping from the upper scaffolding and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-e-h-macdonald/one-felt-that-the-mountains-are-not-completed-the-builders-are-still/)

[J. E. H. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-e-h-macdonald/)

> [To paint from nature is to realize one's sensations, not to copy what is before one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-e-h-macdonald/to-paint-from-nature-is-to-realize-one-s-sensations-not-to-copy-what/)

[J. E. H. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-e-h-macdonald/)

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