Art Quote by Herbert Read
“The classicist, and the naturalist who has much in common with him, refuse to see in the highest works of art anything but the exercise of judgement, sensibility, and skill. The romanticist cannot be satisfied with such a normal standard; for him art is essentially irrational - an experience beyond normality, sometimes destructive of normality, and at the very least evocative of that state of wonder which is the state of mind induced by the immediately inexplicable.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Art and the Romantic Imagination, Herbert Read, 1935
Romantic art seeks irrational wonder, beyond judgment and skill, while classicism values rational judgement.
In simple terms: Romantic art is irrational wonder; classicism is rational judgement.
Key Takeaway
Balance intuition with technique.
Themes
art
romanticism
classicism
judgement
wonder
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- creative writing
- education
- museum curation
Key Concepts
aesthetic theory
subjectivity
creative tension
Questions to Reflect On
- Can art be both rational and irrational?
- What role does wonder play in creativity?
A Different Perspective
Romantic excess can alienate audiences.
