--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I became an artist because of the…" description: "\"I became an artist because of the possibility it gave me to develop in another way, because I didn't want to follow the same lines the others around me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/georg-baselitz-11545_army_i-became-an-artist-because-of-the-possib_1027443.png" --- # I became an artist because of the possibility it gave me… ![“I became an artist because of the possibility it gave me to develop in another way, because I didn't want to follow the same lines the others around me did. I was educated in the former German Democratic Republic, which meant that an individual figure had to be... like a soldier in the army.” quote by Georg Baselitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/georg-baselitz-11545_army_i-became-an-artist-because-of-the-possib_1027443.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/georg-baselitz-11545_army_i-became-an-artist-because-of-the-possib_1027443.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/georg-baselitz-11545_army_i-became-an-artist-because-of-the-possib_1027443.png) > “I became an artist because of the possibility it gave me to develop in another way, because I didn't want to follow the same lines the others around me did. I was educated in the former German Democratic Republic, which meant that an individual figure had to be... like a soldier in the army.” [Georg Baselitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-baselitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He became an artist to break free from oppressive conformity, seeking personal development beyond militaristic expectations. **In simple terms:** He chose art to escape rigid, collective expectations. Key Takeaway Seek personal freedom through creative expression. Themes freedom conformity identity artistic development Mood reflective inspirational Type artistic personal When to use this quote - art school - political activism - personal journaling - career change Key Concepts self‑determination political context personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How does your background shape your creative path? - What freedoms do you seek beyond societal expectations? A Different Perspective His experience may not translate to all cultural contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-possibility-2327254/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Educated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educated/) [Gave Develop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gave-develop-2327256/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual Figure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-figure-2327255/) [Like Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-soldier-471627/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) ## Related quotes > [“It's her ability as an artist to see possibility where others see a blank page and, by extension, to see victory where others see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-cross/it-s-her-ability-as-an-artist-to-see-possibility-where-others-see-a/) [Sarah Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-cross/) > [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 had the opportunity to learn more about what life is like for a soldier \[in The Yellow Birds\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-ehrenreich/i-had-the-opportunity-to-learn-more-about-what-life-is-like-for-a/) [Alden Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-ehrenreich/) > [I have seen the day of wrong through the little hole of discretion, and I will right myself like a soldier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-have-seen-the-day-of-wrong-through-the-little-hole-of-discretion/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“You must bear losses like a soldier, the voice told me, bravely and without complaint, and just when the day seems lost, grab your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-george/you-must-bear-losses-like-a-soldier-the-voice-told-me-bravely-and/) [Margaret George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-george/) > [“I run to the coffeemaker like a soldier returning to a lost love after the war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-run-to-the-coffeemaker-like-a-soldier-returning-to-a-lost-love/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“I began, I remember, because I felt I had to. I'd reached that modest height in my career, that gentle rise, from which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-gass/i-began-i-remember-because-i-felt-i-had-to-i-d-reached-that-modest/) [William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-gass/) > [True love is like a soldier ..loyal till we die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritzy/true-love-is-like-a-soldier-loyal-till-we-die/) [Ritzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritzy/) > [I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his honour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-b-travis/i-am-determined-to-sustain-myself-as-long-as-possible-and-die-like-a/) [William B. Travis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-b-travis/) > [“Like a soldier standing long under fire, any change comes as a relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/like-a-soldier-standing-long-under-fire-any-change-comes-as-a-relief/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) > [I can work hard and be disciplined like a soldier, but I could never reach their level of fitness. I have a whole new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-can-work-hard-and-be-disciplined-like-a-soldier-but-i-could-never/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [“Britain, in the memorable phrase of another young State Department officer, “was like a soldier wounded in war who, now that the fighting was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-l-mee-jr/britain-in-the-memorable-phrase-of-another-young-state-department/) [Charles L. Mee Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-l-mee-jr/) > [Be like a soldier, know when to fight, know when to surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-like-a-soldier-know-when-to-fight-know-when-to-surrender/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the black of my eyes you can find a soul, one that has burned in the core of hell, loved in an irrational…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-lucci/in-the-black-of-my-eyes-you-can-find-a-soul-one-that-has-burned-in/) [Madeline Lucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-lucci/) > [Knew you was the one, that's why I chose you. Cause you get down for yours and ride like a soldier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-diddy/knew-you-was-the-one-that-s-why-i-chose-you-cause-you-get-down-for/) [P Diddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-diddy/) ## More by Georg Baselitz > [When Michael Werner saw a painting of mine, such as Die grosse Nacht im Eimer, which back then nobody wanted and everybody thought was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-baselitz/when-michael-werner-saw-a-painting-of-mine-such-as-die-grosse-nacht/) [Georg Baselitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-baselitz/) > [I paint German artists whom I admire. I paint their pictures, their work as painters, and their portraits too. But oddly enough, each of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-baselitz/i-paint-german-artists-whom-i-admire-i-paint-their-pictures-their/) [Georg Baselitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-baselitz/) > [Most of arts what comes from the States to Europe has something to do with entertainment. I can't imagine artists in the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-baselitz/most-of-arts-what-comes-from-the-states-to-europe-has-something-to-do/) [Georg Baselitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-baselitz/) > [Alfred Schnittke was an important contemporary composer, and he lived in Germany, but no one here has heard of him. Everyone has heard of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-baselitz/alfred-schnittke-was-an-important-contemporary-composer-and-he-lived/) [Georg Baselitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-baselitz/) > [I don't paint over my paintings with black paint. I paint black paintings. It isn't because I'm sad, just as I didn't paint red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-baselitz/i-don-t-paint-over-my-paintings-with-black-paint-i-paint-black/) [Georg Baselitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-baselitz/) > [A citizen sticks to conventions, does whatever is social. Artists, of course, must reject all conventions. I see no differently in reconciling the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-baselitz/a-citizen-sticks-to-conventions-does-whatever-is-social-artists-of/) [Georg Baselitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-baselitz/) > [I do not have a philosophy about retrospectives. Of course, I cannot change what I have done. What I am doing today, this I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-baselitz/i-do-not-have-a-philosophy-about-retrospectives-of-course-i-cannot/) [Georg Baselitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-baselitz/) > [An object painted upside down is suitable for painting because it is unsuitable as an object.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-baselitz/an-object-painted-upside-down-is-suitable-for-painting-because-it-is/) [Georg Baselitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-baselitz/) > [I don't know who made up this sort of greatest-hits list for artists. If one artist isn't moving forward anymore, then it's assumed another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-baselitz/i-don-t-know-who-made-up-this-sort-of-greatest-hits-list-for-artists/) [Georg Baselitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-baselitz/) > [Women don't paint very well. It's a fact. There are, of course, exceptions. Agnes Martin or, from the past, Paula Modersohn-Becker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-baselitz/women-don-t-paint-very-well-it-s-a-fact-there-are-of-course/) [Georg Baselitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-baselitz/) > [I would say for everyday I build buildings or houses like a bricklayer with canvas and paint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-baselitz/i-would-say-for-everyday-i-build-buildings-or-houses-like-a/) [Georg Baselitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-baselitz/) > [I had always loved expressionist painting, like every European. In fact I admired it all the more because these were precisely the paintings despised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-baselitz/i-had-always-loved-expressionist-painting-like-every-european-in-fact/) [Georg Baselitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-baselitz/) > [I hang my work upside down to emphasize surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-baselitz/i-hang-my-work-upside-down-to-emphasize-surface/) [Georg Baselitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-baselitz/) > [Talent seduces us into interpretation. My sister could draw wonderfully, but she would never have hit upon the idea of becoming a painter. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-baselitz/talent-seduces-us-into-interpretation-my-sister-could-draw/) [Georg Baselitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-baselitz/) > [I have always had the feeling that other people are too stupid to discover interesting things. That's why I do it myself. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-baselitz/i-have-always-had-the-feeling-that-other-people-are-too-stupid-to/) [Georg Baselitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-baselitz/) [Explore all 59 Georg Baselitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-baselitz/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. 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