Art Quote by Arthur C. Danto
““I do not think it possible to convey the moral energy that went into this division between abstraction and realism, from both sides, in those years. It had an almost theological intensity, and in another stage of civilization there would certainly have been burnings at stake.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Transfiguration of the Commonplace, Arthur C. Danto, 1990
The split between abstract and realistic art was driven by a deep, almost religious passion, reflecting a cultural moment of intense artistic conflict.
In simple terms: Artists were fiercely divided between abstraction and realism, feeling it like a religious struggle.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the intensity behind artistic debates.
Themes
art
culture
conflict
religion
history
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- museum curators
- art students
- gallery owners
- cultural critics
Key Concepts
aesthetic theory
art movements
cultural intensity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this artistic divide affect contemporary art?
- Can art be both abstract and realistic without conflict?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overstate the universality of the conflict, ignoring artists who blended both styles.
![“One peculiarity of our present [ethical] climate is that we care much more about our rights than about our 'good'. For previous thinkers about ethics, such as those who wrote the Upanishads, or Confucius, or Plato, or the founders of the Christian tradition, the central concern was the state of…” quote by Simon Blackburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ccf/simon-blackburn-14689_character_one-peculiarity-of-our-present-ethical-c_1739110.jpg)
