--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Van Gogh, Modigliani, Hiroshige, etc…" description: "\"“Van Gogh, Modigliani, Hiroshige, etc., didn’t know merde about yachts, 8-star hotels, infinite pools, private jets...”\" — Alexander Akyna" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12c/alexander-akyna-65546_business_van-gogh-modigliani-hiroshige-etc-didn-t_1031695.jpg" --- # Van Gogh, Modigliani, Hiroshige, etc., didn’t know merde… ![“Van Gogh, Modigliani, Hiroshige, etc., didn’t know merde about yachts, 8-star hotels, infinite pools, private jets...” quote by Alexander Akyna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12c/alexander-akyna-65546_business_van-gogh-modigliani-hiroshige-etc-didn-t_1031695.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12c/alexander-akyna-65546_business_van-gogh-modigliani-hiroshige-etc-didn-t_1031695.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12c/alexander-akyna-65546_business_van-gogh-modigliani-hiroshige-etc-didn-t_1031695.jpg) > ““Van Gogh, Modigliani, Hiroshige, etc., didn’t know merde about yachts, 8-star hotels, infinite pools, private jets...”” [Alexander Akyna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-akyna/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker critiques the disconnect between artistic brilliance and material luxury, implying that true creativity isn’t measured by wealth. **In simple terms:** Artistic talent isn’t defined by wealth or luxury. Key Takeaway Value creativity over material status. Themes art wealth creativity Mood critical contemplative Type social philosophical When to use this quote - artist interviews - social commentary - luxury critique Key Concepts materialism artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - Do you think wealth influences artistic freedom? - How can artists balance creativity with financial stability? A Different Perspective The statement may dismiss the reality of financial needs for artists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Contemporary art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemporary-art/) [Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gogh/) [Gogh Modigliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gogh-modigliani-2360540/) [Modigliani Hiroshige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modigliani-hiroshige-2360542/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Van gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/van-gogh/) [Yachts Star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yachts-star-2360541/) ## Related quotes > [“No wonder Van Gogh cut his ear off, I thought; there’s nothing else to do in a place like this but cut your ear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kerr/no-wonder-van-gogh-cut-his-ear-off-i-thought-there-s-nothing-else-to/) [Philip Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kerr/) > [Van Gogh never made a penny in his entire lifetime. He painted because it was his soul, his excitement. It was what aligned him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/van-gogh-never-made-a-penny-in-his-entire-lifetime-he-painted-because/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [ I will be an artist. I am sure I will. \[Vincent Van Gogh\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/i-will-be-an-artist-i-am-sure-i-will-vincent-van-gogh/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [“Against all expectations, the symptoms of Van Gogh’s mental illness are conspicuous by their almost complete absence from his letters. Much as he chose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/against-all-expectations-the-symptoms-of-van-gogh-s-mental-illness/) [Vincent van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > ['The Night Cafe' and 'The Starry Night' still emit such pathos, density, and intensity that they send shivers down the spine. Whether Van Gogh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/the-night-cafe-and-the-starry-night-still-emit-such-pathos-density/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [“Artists, real artists, have to work. They can’t be hedonists. Really good painters are always working. The world is such a marvelous place. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hockney/artists-real-artists-have-to-work-they-can-t-be-hedonists-really-good/) [David Hockney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hockney/) > [If I could have any artist's work on my sitting room wall it would probably be by Van Gogh or Picasso.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-stevenson/if-i-could-have-any-artist-s-work-on-my-sitting-room-wall-it-would/) [Juliet Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-stevenson/) > [The artist cannot look to others to validate his efforts or his calling. If you don't believe me, ask Van Gogh, who produced masterpiece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-artist-cannot-look-to-others-to-validate-his-efforts-or-his/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“You have first to experience what you want to express. —Vincent van Gogh”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/you-have-first-to-experience-what-you-want-to-express-vincent-van-gogh/) [Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/) > [I've always been really fascinated by Vincent van Gogh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/i-ve-always-been-really-fascinated-by-vincent-van-gogh/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [“I’m not Helen Keller—I’m Van Gogh. It’s not that I can’t hear, it’s that I don’t use my ears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-not-helen-keller-i-m-van-gogh-it-s-not-that-i-can-t-hear-it-s/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Now don't think I've lost my mind - but I'll tell you, I'll look at some of the cards I have, some of Van…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/now-don-t-think-i-ve-lost-my-mind-but-i-ll-tell-you-i-ll-look-at-some/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [ You cannot be the good all the time — sometimes it is necessary to get angry. \[Vincent Van Gogh\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/you-cannot-be-the-good-all-the-time-sometimes-it-is-necessary-to-get/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [“Van Gogh on Christmas: And now we’re slowly heading towards winter, and many dread it, but Christmas is wonderful, it’s like the moss on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liesbeth-heenk/van-gogh-on-christmas-and-now-we-re-slowly-heading-towards-winter-and/) [Liesbeth Heenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liesbeth-heenk/) > [“When Van Gogh was a young man in his early twenties, he was in London studying to be a clergyman. He had no thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-ueland/when-van-gogh-was-a-young-man-in-his-early-twenties-he-was-in-london/) [Brenda Ueland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-ueland/) ## More by Alexander Akyna > [“He died the way he lived: Expecting to finally start living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-akyna/he-died-the-way-he-lived-expecting-to-finally-start-living/) [Alexander Akyna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-akyna/) > [“I'll eat your eyeballs with chopsticks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-akyna/i-ll-eat-your-eyeballs-with-chopsticks/) [Alexander Akyna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-akyna/) > [“Another reptilian brain disguised as a modest mouse in the rat race.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-akyna/another-reptilian-brain-disguised-as-a-modest-mouse-in-the-rat-race/) [Alexander Akyna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-akyna/) [Explore all 4 Alexander Akyna quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-akyna/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Van Gogh, Modigliani, Hiroshige, etc., didn’t know merde about yachts, 8-star hotels, infinite pools, private jets...”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander Akyna" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-akyna/van-gogh-modigliani-hiroshige-etc-didn-t-know-merde-about-yachts-8/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-akyna/van-gogh-modigliani-hiroshige-etc-didn-t-know-merde-about-yachts-8/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12c/alexander-akyna-65546_business_van-gogh-modigliani-hiroshige-etc-didn-t_1031695.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12c/alexander-akyna-65546_business_van-gogh-modigliani-hiroshige-etc-didn-t_1031695.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12c/alexander-akyna-65546_business_van-gogh-modigliani-hiroshige-etc-didn-t_1031695.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Van Gogh, Modigliani, Hiroshige, etc., didn’t know merde about yachts, 8-star hotels, infinite pools…” — Alexander Akyna", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alexander Akyna", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-akyna/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Van Gogh, Modigliani, Hiroshige, etc., didn’t...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-akyna/van-gogh-modigliani-hiroshige-etc-didn-t-know-merde-about-yachts-8/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-akyna/van-gogh-modigliani-hiroshige-etc-didn-t-know-merde-about-yachts-8/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```