Artist Quote by Antonin Artaud
““If there is still one hellish, truly accursed thing in our time, it is our artistic dallying with forms, instead of being like victims burnt at the stake, signaling through the flames.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Theater and Its Double, 1938
Art should confront suffering directly rather than hide behind decorative forms, lest it become a hollow spectacle.
In simple terms: Art must face suffering, not hide.
Create confronting, honest art.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- theatre
- visual arts
- literature
- film production
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do artists choose comfort over truth?
- How can art engage with pain responsibly?
Artistic abstraction can dilute meaningful impact.