--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real function of the artist is to…" description: "\"The real function of the artist is to give fresh vision to their own generation.\" — Doris McCarthy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/doris-mccarthy-54144_art_the-real-function-of-the-artist-is-to-gi_350405.png" --- # The real function of the artist is to give fresh vision to… ![“The real function of the artist is to give fresh vision to their own generation.” quote by Doris McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/doris-mccarthy-54144_art_the-real-function-of-the-artist-is-to-gi_350405.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/doris-mccarthy-54144_art_the-real-function-of-the-artist-is-to-gi_350405.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/doris-mccarthy-54144_art_the-real-function-of-the-artist-is-to-gi_350405.png) > “The real function of the artist is to give fresh vision to their own generation.” [Doris McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-mccarthy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist should refresh their era’s perspective, offering new ways to see the world. **In simple terms:** Artists give their generation fresh vision. Key Takeaway Create work that challenges contemporary views. Themes creativity generational impact vision Mood inspired reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - gallery openings - public murals - community workshops Key Concepts cultural renewal artistic responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can art reshape current societal narratives? - What barriers prevent fresh vision from being accepted? A Different Perspective May be limited by audience resistance to new ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [It was an idealistic vision that generation had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-hoffman/it-was-an-idealistic-vision-that-generation-had/) [Mat Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-hoffman/) > [I want people to look at me in the future and feel that there's this Asian hip-hop artist who's fresh and hot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-wu/i-want-people-to-look-at-me-in-the-future-and-feel-that-there-s-this/) [Kris Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-wu/) > [Often, in the midst of great problems, we stop short of the real blessing God has for us, which is a fresh vision of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-graham-lotz/often-in-the-midst-of-great-problems-we-stop-short-of-the-real/) [Anne Graham Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-graham-lotz/) > [“Depression loses its power when fresh vision pierces the darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sinclair/depression-loses-its-power-when-fresh-vision-pierces-the-darkness/) Peter Sinclair > [Making the inner meet the outer is the function of the artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/making-the-inner-meet-the-outer-is-the-function-of-the-artist/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The function of the artist is to disturb. His duty is to arouse the sleeper, to shake the complacent pillars of the world. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-bethune/the-function-of-the-artist-is-to-disturb-his-duty-is-to-arouse-the/) Norman Bethune > [The defining function of the artist is to cherish consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/the-defining-function-of-the-artist-is-to-cherish-consciousness/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) > [The function of the artist is to invent, not to chronicle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-function-of-the-artist-is-to-invent-not-to-chronicle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The function of the artist in a disturbed society is to give awareness of the universe, to ask the right questions, and to elevate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/the-function-of-the-artist-in-a-disturbed-society-is-to-give/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [The function of the artist is the mythologization of the culture and the world. In the visual arts there were two men whose work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-function-of-the-artist-is-the-mythologization-of-the-culture-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The function of the artist is to disturb. His duty is to arouse the sleeper, to shake the complacent pillars of the world.In a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-bethune/the-function-of-the-artist-is-to-disturb-his-duty-is-to-arouse-the-2/) Norman Bethune > [The function of the artist is to make people like life better than they have before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-function-of-the-artist-is-to-make-people-like-life-better-than/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [The function of the artist is to provide what life does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-function-of-the-artist-is-to-provide-what-life-does-not/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The function of the artist is to organize the facets of life according to his imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romare-bearden/the-function-of-the-artist-is-to-organize-the-facets-of-life/) [Romare Bearden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romare-bearden/) > [“The function of the artist,' the Navajo answered, 'is to provide what life does not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-function-of-the-artist-the-navajo-answered-is-to-provide-what/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) ## More by Doris McCarthy > [Writing gave me a second chance - not to change things, but to savor them. That is a great gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-mccarthy/writing-gave-me-a-second-chance-not-to-change-things-but-to-savor/) [Doris McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-mccarthy/) > [My paintings are so legible, I feel guilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-mccarthy/my-paintings-are-so-legible-i-feel-guilty/) [Doris McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-mccarthy/) > [I don't want to see any art-writing gobbledygook or overblown words in an essay about me. If a smaller, simpler word will do -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-mccarthy/i-don-t-want-to-see-any-art-writing-gobbledygook-or-overblown-words/) [Doris McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-mccarthy/) > [Take a moment to think... See - logically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-mccarthy/take-a-moment-to-think-see-logically/) [Doris McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-mccarthy/) > [You are actually constructing... what your head understood about what your eyes saw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-mccarthy/you-are-actually-constructing-what-your-head-understood-about-what/) [Doris McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-mccarthy/) [Explore all 6 Doris McCarthy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-mccarthy/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The real function of the artist is to give fresh vision to their own generation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Doris McCarthy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-mccarthy/the-real-function-of-the-artist-is-to-give-fresh-vision-to-their-own/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-mccarthy/the-real-function-of-the-artist-is-to-give-fresh-vision-to-their-own/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/doris-mccarthy-54144_art_the-real-function-of-the-artist-is-to-gi_350405.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/doris-mccarthy-54144_art_the-real-function-of-the-artist-is-to-gi_350405.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/doris-mccarthy-54144_art_the-real-function-of-the-artist-is-to-gi_350405.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The real function of the artist is to give fresh vision to their own generation.” — Doris McCarthy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Doris McCarthy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-mccarthy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The real function of the artist...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-mccarthy/the-real-function-of-the-artist-is-to-give-fresh-vision-to-their-own/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-mccarthy/the-real-function-of-the-artist-is-to-give-fresh-vision-to-their-own/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```