Art Quote by Clement Greenberg
“Complete honesty has nothing to do with 'purity' or naivety. The full truth is unattainable to naivety, and the completely honest artist is not pure in heart.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Art and Honesty, 1955
True honesty in art is impossible; striving for purity leads to naivety.
In simple terms: Art cannot be completely pure.
Key Takeaway
Embrace complexity over false purity.
Themes
art
truth
integrity
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- creative practice
- museum curation
Key Concepts
aesthetics
philosophy
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “pure” mean in your work?
- Can honesty be harmful?
A Different Perspective
Purity may be a useful ideal for some artists.
![“"Openness" [story] ultimately asks this same question - can a relationship survive complete honesty? As a romantic, I want to say "Yes, of course!" But, over time, I've come to agree with Dan Savage.” quote by Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e7d/alexander-weinstein-17341_agree_openness-story-ultimately-asks-this-same_1010233.jpg)
