--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Art is not arbitrary. A fine painting is…" description: "\"Art is not arbitrary. A fine painting is not there by accident; it is not arrived at by chance. We are sensitive to tonalities.\" — Frederick Sommer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/frederick-sommer-23789_accidents_art-is-not-arbitrary-a-fine-painting-is_2769747.png" --- # Art is not arbitrary. A fine painting is not there by… ![“Art is not arbitrary. A fine painting is not there by accident; it is not arrived at by chance. We are sensitive to tonalities.” quote by Frederick Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/frederick-sommer-23789_accidents_art-is-not-arbitrary-a-fine-painting-is_2769747.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/frederick-sommer-23789_accidents_art-is-not-arbitrary-a-fine-painting-is_2769747.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/frederick-sommer-23789_accidents_art-is-not-arbitrary-a-fine-painting-is_2769747.png) > “Art is not arbitrary. A fine painting is not there by accident; it is not arrived at by chance. We are sensitive to tonalities.” [Frederick Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-sommer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art is intentional, not random; tonal sensitivity guides creation, rejecting arbitrariness. **In simple terms:** Art is purposeful, guided by tone. Key Takeaway Develop keen tonal awareness. Themes art intentionality tone Mood thoughtful analytical Type theoretical educational When to use this quote - visual arts - education - critical analysis Key Concepts aesthetic theory creative process Questions to Reflect On - How does tone influence perception? - Can randomness ever be artistic? A Different Perspective Artistic intent can be subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Arbitrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary/) [Arbitrary Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary-fine-3233257/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Arbitrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-arbitrary-3161463/) [Art is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-is/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine/) [Fine Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine-painting-3233256/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Sensitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensitive/) [Sensitive Tonalities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensitive-tonalities-3233258/) [Tonalities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tonalities-3233259/) ## Related quotes > [Artists, whatever their medium, make selections from the abounding materials of life, and organize these selections into works that are under the control of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/artists-whatever-their-medium-make-selections-from-the-abounding/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [There are tonalities which are noble and others which are vulgar, harmonies which are calm or consoling, and others which are exciting because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/there-are-tonalities-which-are-noble-and-others-which-are-vulgar/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [The intellectual attainments of a man who thinks for himself resemble a fine painting, where the light and shade are correct, the tone sustained,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/the-intellectual-attainments-of-a-man-who-thinks-for-himself-resemble-2/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Poetry is a very complex art… It is an art of pure sound bound in through an art of arbitrary and conventional symbols.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/poetry-is-a-very-complex-art-it-is-an-art-of-pure-sound-bound-in/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [Art is arbitrary but it sort of reveals itself to be right or wrong anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-spektor/art-is-arbitrary-but-it-sort-of-reveals-itself-to-be-right-or-wrong/) [Regina Spektor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-spektor/) > [What causes adolescents to rebel is not the assertion of authority but the arbitrary use of power, with little explanation of the rules and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-steinberg/what-causes-adolescents-to-rebel-is-not-the-assertion-of-authority/) [Laurence Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-steinberg/) > [Contrary to what certain governments say, human rights are universal. 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