--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was born knowing that I had to be a…" description: "\"I was born knowing that I had to be a painter, because my father, an art historian, always presented painting as the only acceptable thing in life.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66d/domenico-gnoli-24815_acceptable_i-was-born-knowing-that-i-had-to-be-a-pa_440953.jpg" --- # I was born knowing that I had to be a painter, because my… ![“I was born knowing that I had to be a painter, because my father, an art historian, always presented painting as the only acceptable thing in life.” quote by Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66d/domenico-gnoli-24815_acceptable_i-was-born-knowing-that-i-had-to-be-a-pa_440953.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66d/domenico-gnoli-24815_acceptable_i-was-born-knowing-that-i-had-to-be-a-pa_440953.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66d/domenico-gnoli-24815_acceptable_i-was-born-knowing-that-i-had-to-be-a-pa_440953.jpg) > “I was born knowing that I had to be a painter, because my father, an art historian, always presented painting as the only acceptable thing in life.” [Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A personal calling shaped by familial expectations and artistic exposure. **In simple terms:** Family influence guided his artistic path. Key Takeaway Recognize and pursue authentic passions. Themes identity family art career Mood introspective thoughtful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - career decision - creative projects - education choices - self‑discovery Key Concepts Existentialism self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - Is this path truly yours? - How does family shape your aspirations? A Different Perspective Pressure may limit exploration of other interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Historian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-historian/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Things in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-in-life/) ## Related quotes > [My mother thought I would have a hard life as a painter. My father thought the highest thing a person could be was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-katz/my-mother-thought-i-would-have-a-hard-life-as-a-painter-my-father/) [Alex Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-katz/) > [To an art historian a Giotto is a 14th Century painting. To an artist it was painted yesterday. We free ourselves from the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/to-an-art-historian-a-giotto-is-a-14th-century-painting-to-an-artist/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [I don't have the education of an art historian. I've certainly read about art and look at art and have educated myself to some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-tillman/i-don-t-have-the-education-of-an-art-historian-i-ve-certainly-read/) [Lynne Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-tillman/) > [The connoisseur might be defined as a laconic art historian, and the art historian as a loquacious connoisseur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-panofsky/the-connoisseur-might-be-defined-as-a-laconic-art-historian-and-the/) Erwin Panofsky > [One of the challenges in writing the script Call Me by Your Name was that I had to find something concrete for the professor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/one-of-the-challenges-in-writing-the-script-call-me-by-your-name-was/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [Because I'm an art historian, I have some experience of writing that comes out of close attention. That's what really art history is. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teju-cole/because-i-m-an-art-historian-i-have-some-experience-of-writing-that/) [Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teju-cole/) > [I was at one point thinking about being an art historian, when I was in school. And not being an artist, but I decided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-was-at-one-point-thinking-about-being-an-art-historian-when-i-was/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [To my father, art had no restrictions. He was a true 'American Primitive.' He greatly enjoyed sketching and photography, carrying a camera with him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carter-cash/to-my-father-art-had-no-restrictions-he-was-a-true-american-primitive/) [John Carter Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carter-cash/) > [Sultan Beyazid considered his father's art collection decadent and ordered it sold at auction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/sultan-beyazid-considered-his-father-s-art-collection-decadent-and/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [“My father who art in hell, Lestat be your name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/my-father-who-art-in-hell-lestat-be-your-name/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [In '68 I was 13 years old, so I was a child, but I felt a lot of excitement in listening to things, looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludovico-einaudi/in-68-i-was-13-years-old-so-i-was-a-child-but-i-felt-a-lot-of/) [Ludovico Einaudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludovico-einaudi/) > [“Our Father who art in nature...must have a great and overwhelming love for no-goods and blots-on-the-town and bums, and Mack and the boys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/our-father-who-art-in-nature-must-have-a-great-and-overwhelming-love/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“Our Father Who Art in Heaven gathered more meaning for me as my own father joined the Maker when I was still in school.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-paula/our-father-who-art-in-heaven-gathered-more-meaning-for-me-as-my-own/) [Andy Paula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-paula/) > [“Victory on earth lies in the hand of our Father, who art in Heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/victory-on-earth-lies-in-the-hand-of-our-father-who-art-in-heaven/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [Our Father who art in nature, who has given the gift of survival to the coyote, the common brown rat, the English sparrow, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/our-father-who-art-in-nature-who-has-given-the-gift-of-survival-to/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) ## More by Domenico Gnoli > [Only thanks to Pop Art, my painting has become understandable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-gnoli/only-thanks-to-pop-art-my-painting-has-become-understandable/) [Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) > [My life provides me with these images that become expressions of my daily experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-gnoli/my-life-provides-me-with-these-images-that-become-expressions-of-my/) [Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) > [I am metaphysical inasmuch as I am looking for a non-eloquent painting, immobile and of atmosphere, which feeds on static situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-gnoli/i-am-metaphysical-inasmuch-as-i-am-looking-for-a-non-eloquent/) [Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) > [I couldn't get used to the community and social life of a theatrical set designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-gnoli/i-couldn-t-get-used-to-the-community-and-social-life-of-a-theatrical/) [Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) > [For many years it was difficult for me to paint because I didn't feel the informal painting that was then tyrannically dominating painters and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-gnoli/for-many-years-it-was-difficult-for-me-to-paint-because-i-didn-t-feel/) [Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) > [You begin looking at things and they look just fine, as normal as ever, but then you look for a while longer and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-gnoli/you-begin-looking-at-things-and-they-look-just-fine-as-normal-as-ever/) [Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) > [ I know how pathetically inadequate my medium \[painting\] is, but unfortunately I dispose of no other. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-gnoli/i-know-how-pathetically-inadequate-my-medium-painting-is-but/) [Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) > [I can only speak for myself but for me imagination and invention cannot generate something more important, more beautiful and more terrifying than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-gnoli/i-can-only-speak-for-myself-but-for-me-imagination-and-invention/) [Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) > [All I know is that mine was a completely new theory about art, a new approach that made the pictures appear just like life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-gnoli/all-i-know-is-that-mine-was-a-completely-new-theory-about-art-a-new/) [Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) > [An audience is perhaps unnecessary to the soul-searching mystic, but it is vital to the magician, the maker of prodigies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-gnoli/an-audience-is-perhaps-unnecessary-to-the-soul-searching-mystic-but/) [Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) > [There isn't much to say about my childhood. I remember explosions of intense happiness, followed shortly afterwards by profound melancholy that always prompted remarks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-gnoli/there-isn-t-much-to-say-about-my-childhood-i-remember-explosions-of/) [Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) > [If an artist has the possibility to contact an infinitely larger public through the pages of a publication, he should try to invest more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-gnoli/if-an-artist-has-the-possibility-to-contact-an-infinitely-larger/) [Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) > [I don't want to think that I am going to believe that I am a hell of a genius, or anything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-gnoli/i-don-t-want-to-think-that-i-am-going-to-believe-that-i-am-a-hell-of/) [Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) > [I call prodigy all that is invented, all that begins to exist from the second it is conceived, it is the process not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-gnoli/i-call-prodigy-all-that-is-invented-all-that-begins-to-exist-from-the/) [Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) > [I always use given and simple elements, I don't want to add or subtract anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-gnoli/i-always-use-given-and-simple-elements-i-don-t-want-to-add-or/) [Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) [Explore all 24 Domenico Gnoli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/) ## More Acceptable quotes > [The inner defenses are unconscious. 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