Art Quote by Edgar Degas
“It seems to me that today, if the artist wishes to be serious - to cut out a little original niche for himself, or at least preserve his own innocence of personality - he must once more sink himself in solitude. There is too much talk and gossip; pictures are apparently made, like stock-market prices, by competition of people eager for profit; in order to do anything at all we need (so to speak) the wit and ideas of our neighbors as much as the businessmen need the funds of others to win on the market. All this traffic sharpens our intelligence and falsifies our judgment.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Art of Solitude, 1905
Artists need solitude to preserve originality and avoid the corrupting influence of commercial competition.
In simple terms: Solitude protects creative integrity.
Key Takeaway
Seek quiet time for authentic work.
Themes
creativity
solitude
authenticity
Mood
contemplative
serious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- artist retreats
- creative writing
- independent projects
- academic research
Key Concepts
artistic integrity
commercial pressure
Questions to Reflect On
- How does solitude affect your creative process?
- What balance between collaboration and isolation works for you?
A Different Perspective
Solitude can lead to isolation and lack of feedback.
![“I think as much as possible, an artist, if he has any kind of social or political concern, has to…expose as much as possible what he sees so that some people think about things that they don’t normally think about… [Art] should be something that liberates the soul, provokes the imagination and…” quote by Keith Haring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9ee/keith-haring-14071_art_i-think-as-much-as-possible-an-artist-if_138866.jpg)
