--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cold exactitude is not art... The…" description: "\"Cold exactitude is not art... The so-called consciousness of the majority of painters is only perfection applied to the art of boring. People like that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/eugene-delacroix-6604_art_cold-exactitude-is-not-art-the-so-called_2343735.jpg" --- # Cold exactitude is not art... The so-called consciousness… ![“Cold exactitude is not art... The so-called consciousness of the majority of painters is only perfection applied to the art of boring. People like that, if they could, would work with the same minute attention on the back of their canvas.” quote by Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/eugene-delacroix-6604_art_cold-exactitude-is-not-art-the-so-called_2343735.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/eugene-delacroix-6604_art_cold-exactitude-is-not-art-the-so-called_2343735.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/eugene-delacroix-6604_art_cold-exactitude-is-not-art-the-so-called_2343735.jpg) > “Cold exactitude is not art... The so-called consciousness of the majority of painters is only perfection applied to the art of boring. People like that, if they could, would work with the same minute attention on the back of their canvas.” [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The majority of painters achieve technical perfection but lack genuine artistic spirit, resulting in boring work. **In simple terms:** Technical skill without soul makes art dull. Key Takeaway Seek meaning beyond technique. Themes art technique creativity mundanity authenticity Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - painting classes - gallery reviews - art education - creative workshops Key Concepts aesthetic philosophy creative authenticity critical theory Questions to Reflect On - What makes art feel alive? - How can artists avoid sterile perfection? A Different Perspective Technical mastery can become empty without personal expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Canvas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Exactitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exactitude/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Painters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painters/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) ## Related quotes > [Cold exactitude is not art; ingenious artifice, when it pleases or when it expresses, is art itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/cold-exactitude-is-not-art-ingenious-artifice-when-it-pleases-or-when/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [The so-called conscientiousness of the majority of painters is only perfection applied to the art of boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/the-so-called-conscientiousness-of-the-majority-of-painters-is-only/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [If art is the poetic interpretation of nature, photography is the exact translation; it is exactitude in art or the complement of art. (1854)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-negre/if-art-is-the-poetic-interpretation-of-nature-photography-is-the/) Charles Negre > [The majority of (painters), because they aren't colorists, do not see yellow, orange or sulphur in the South (of France) and they call a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/the-majority-of-painters-because-they-aren-t-colorists-do-not-see/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [I think didactic art is boring. I mean, I love it in terms of, like, some of the historical precedents that I've learned from.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/i-think-didactic-art-is-boring-i-mean-i-love-it-in-terms-of-like-some/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [“The art of being boring is to tell it all”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-art-of-being-boring-is-to-tell-it-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ It's impossible to represent a saint \[in Art\]. It becomes boring. Perhaps because he is, like the Saturday Evening Post people, inthe position of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/it-s-impossible-to-represent-a-saint-in-art-it-becomes-boring-perhaps/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Painters who are not colorists produce illumination, not painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/painters-who-are-not-colorists-produce-illumination-not-painting/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [Writing is eternal, For therein the dead heart liveth, the clay-cold tongue is eloquent, And the quick eye of the reader is cleared by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/writing-is-eternal-for-therein-the-dead-heart-liveth-the-clay-cold/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [On the ostensible exactitude of certain branches of human knowledge, including mathematics. The exactness is a fake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/on-the-ostensible-exactitude-of-certain-branches-of-human-knowledge/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [We debase the richness of both nature and our own minds if we view the great pageant of our intellectual history as a compendium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/we-debase-the-richness-of-both-nature-and-our-own-minds-if-we-view/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [The flaw in, say, austerity, is that its success is predicated on the relative exactitude of math rather than the shifting, liquid imperfection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weber/the-flaw-in-say-austerity-is-that-its-success-is-predicated-on-the/) [Steven Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weber/) > [Life is not an illogicality; yet it is a trap for logicians. It looks just a little more mathematical and regular than it is;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/life-is-not-an-illogicality-yet-it-is-a-trap-for-logicians-it-looks/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“Exactitude is the lowest form of pictorial gratification.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa-2/exactitude-is-the-lowest-form-of-pictorial-gratification/) [S.I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa-2/) > [Golf is not, on the whole, a game for realists. By its exactitudes of measurements it invites the attention of perfectionists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heywood-hale-broun/golf-is-not-on-the-whole-a-game-for-realists-by-its-exactitudes-of/) Heywood Hale Broun ## More by Eugene Delacroix > [A wife of your own stature is the greatest of all blessings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/a-wife-of-your-own-stature-is-the-greatest-of-all-blessings/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [“Men of genius are made not by new ideas, but by an idea which possesses them, namely, that what has been said has not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/men-of-genius-are-made-not-by-new-ideas-but-by-an-idea-which/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [Every time I await a model, even when I am most pressed to time, I am overjoyed when the time comes and I tremble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/every-time-i-await-a-model-even-when-i-am-most-pressed-to-time-i-am/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [The things one experiences alone with oneself are very much stronger and purer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/the-things-one-experiences-alone-with-oneself-are-very-much-stronger/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [I believe it safe to say that all progress must lead, not to further progress, but finally to the negation of progress, a return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/i-believe-it-safe-to-say-that-all-progress-must-lead-not-to-further/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [Weaknesses in men of genius are usually an exaggeration of their personal feeling; in the hands of feeble imitators they become the most flagrant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/weaknesses-in-men-of-genius-are-usually-an-exaggeration-of-their/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [The true wisdom of the philosopher ought to insist in enjoying everything. Yet we apply ourselves to dissecting and destroying everything that is good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/the-true-wisdom-of-the-philosopher-ought-to-insist-in-enjoying/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [To be understood a writer has to explain almost everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/to-be-understood-a-writer-has-to-explain-almost-everything/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [Nature is a dictionary; one draws words from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/nature-is-a-dictionary-one-draws-words-from-it/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [How can this world, which is so beautiful, include so much horror?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/how-can-this-world-which-is-so-beautiful-include-so-much-horror/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [Glory to that Homer of painting, to that father of warmth and enthusiasm... he really paints men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/glory-to-that-homer-of-painting-to-that-father-of-warmth-and/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [The contour should come last, only a very experienced eye can place it rightly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/the-contour-should-come-last-only-a-very-experienced-eye-can-place-it/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [ \[Photography is\] in some ways false just because it is so exact. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/photography-is-in-some-ways-false-just-because-it-is-so-exact/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [We work not only to produce, but to give value to time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/we-work-not-only-to-produce-but-to-give-value-to-time/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [Can any man say with certainty that he was happy at a particular moment of time which he remembers as being delightful? Remembering it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/can-any-man-say-with-certainty-that-he-was-happy-at-a-particular/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) [Explore all 97 Eugene Delacroix quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) ## 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": "Cold exactitude is not art... 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