Aesthetic Quote by Alexander Rodchenko
“We struggle against easel painting not because it is an aesthetic form of painting, but because it is not modern, for it does not succeed in bringing out the technical side, it is a redundant, exclusive art, and cannot be of any use to the masses. Hence we are struggling not against painting but against photography carried out as if it were an etching, a drawing, a picture in sepia or watercolor.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: On Painting and Photography, 1925
He argues that traditional easel painting is outdated and irrelevant to the masses because it lacks technical relevance, while photography mimicking old styles is similarly ineffective.
In simple terms: Easel painting is old-fashioned; photography copying old styles is useless.
Key Takeaway
Embrace modern, functional art that serves the public.
Themes
art criticism
modernism
mass culture
technology
visual communication
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- museum curation
- art education
- public exhibitions
- photographic practice
Key Concepts
aesthetic relevance
democratization of art
media evolution
Questions to Reflect On
- How can contemporary art remain both innovative and accessible?
- What role should technology play in redefining artistic value?
A Different Perspective
Modern art must balance innovation with accessibility, not just reject the old.
![“Whether a watercolor is inferior to an oil [painting], or whether a drawing, an etching, or a photograph is not as important as either, is inconsequent. To have to despise something in order to respect something else is a sign of impotence.” quote by Paul Strand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a0f/paul-strand-17678_despise_whether-a-watercolor-is-inferior-to-an-o_1061739.jpg)
![“In the end I'm in love with it [Western European easel painting]. And that's where a lot of the influence from the work comes from.” quote by Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dda/kehinde-wiley-1194_ends_in-the-end-i-m-in-love-with-it-western-e_1857256.jpg)
