--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My whole career I've been interested by…" description: "\"My whole career I've been interested by the distinction between an emotional and an intellectual response to an artwork.\" — Janet Echelman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/janet-echelman-26618_artist_my-whole-career-i-ve-been-interested-by_280896.jpg" --- # My whole career I've been interested by the distinction… ![“My whole career I've been interested by the distinction between an emotional and an intellectual response to an artwork.” quote by Janet Echelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/janet-echelman-26618_artist_my-whole-career-i-ve-been-interested-by_280896.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/janet-echelman-26618_artist_my-whole-career-i-ve-been-interested-by_280896.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/janet-echelman-26618_artist_my-whole-career-i-ve-been-interested-by_280896.jpg) > “My whole career I've been interested by the distinction between an emotional and an intellectual response to an artwork.” [Janet Echelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explores how art elicits both feeling and thought, highlighting the dual nature of aesthetic experience. **In simple terms:** Art triggers emotion and intellect. Key Takeaway Notice both feeling and thought in art. Themes aesthetics perception creativity Mood contemplative analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - museum visits - art classes - personal reflection - creative practice Key Concepts emotional response intellectual analysis interpretation Questions to Reflect On - How does a piece make you feel? - What ideas does it provoke? A Different Perspective Some may prioritize one response over the other. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artwork/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) ## Related quotes > [My emotional and intellectual response to Hiroshima was that the question of the social responsibility of a journalist was posed with greater urgency than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-burchett/my-emotional-and-intellectual-response-to-hiroshima-was-that-the/) [Wilfred Burchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-burchett/) > [Any material may be used but the theme is the same and the response is the same for all artwork... we all have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/any-material-may-be-used-but-the-theme-is-the-same-and-the-response/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [“If thinking is an intellectual response to a problem, then the absence of a problem leads to the absence of thinking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-school-press/if-thinking-is-an-intellectual-response-to-a-problem-then-the-absence/) Harvard Business School Press > [“Evil devastates any possibility of an intellectual response; the tools of the rational intellect are as helpless incoping with the aftereffects of evil as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-levy/evil-devastates-any-possibility-of-an-intellectual-response-the-tools/) [Paul Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-levy/) > [The real weakness of England lies, not in incomplete armaments or unfortified coasts, not in the poverty that creeps through sunless lanes, or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-real-weakness-of-england-lies-not-in-incomplete-armaments-or/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Music, I feel, must be emotional first and intellectual second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-ravel/music-i-feel-must-be-emotional-first-and-intellectual-second/) [Maurice Ravel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-ravel/) > [What I look for when I see a piece of art for the first time is some kind of emotional, intellectual experience, that's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/what-i-look-for-when-i-see-a-piece-of-art-for-the-first-time-is-some/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [“Humans are antifragile; exposure to discomfort and uncertainty -physical, emotional and intellectual- is necessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-e-heying/humans-are-antifragile-exposure-to-discomfort-and-uncertainty/) Heather E. Heying > [The "Creed of Christendom" is alien to my nature, both emotional and intellectual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/the-creed-of-christendom-is-alien-to-my-nature-both-emotional-and/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Your brain's working overtime when it comes to a situation between the two of you, but at a certain point your heart's got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-brain-s-working-overtime-when-it-comes-to-a-situation-between/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To me, at its best, that's what art should do, perform both the emotional and intellectual function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-holland/to-me-at-its-best-that-s-what-art-should-do-perform-both-the/) [Dave Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-holland/) > [The art of one period cannot be approached through the attitudes (emotional or intellectual) of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bogan/the-art-of-one-period-cannot-be-approached-through-the-attitudes/) [Louise Bogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bogan/) > [“Writing was the solution to every problem—financial, emotional, intellectual. It had kept me company when I was a lonely child. It gave me an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-levy/writing-was-the-solution-to-every-problem-financial-emotional/) [Ariel Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-levy/) > [CD's are amazing because you get the artwork, you get to look at the lyrics, you get to look at the behind-the-scenes photos or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-patrick/cd-s-are-amazing-because-you-get-the-artwork-you-get-to-look-at-the/) [Richard Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-patrick/) > [The seed of your next artwork lies embedded in the imperfections of your current piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bayles/the-seed-of-your-next-artwork-lies-embedded-in-the-imperfections-of/) [David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/) ## More by Janet Echelman > [When ideas are young and vulnerable, criticism can be lethal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/when-ideas-are-young-and-vulnerable-criticism-can-be-lethal/) [Janet Echelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/) > [As a child, I always enjoyed building forts by stringing up bed sheets and clothes. I continue to be inspired by makeshift structures, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/as-a-child-i-always-enjoyed-building-forts-by-stringing-up-bed-sheets/) [Janet Echelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/) > [My sculpture thrives in the context of the city, interacting with people in the course of their daily lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/my-sculpture-thrives-in-the-context-of-the-city-interacting-with/) [Janet Echelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/) > [My monumental netted sculptural environments move through time, animated by an ever-changing 'wind choreography,' making invisible air currents suddenly visible to the human eye.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/my-monumental-netted-sculptural-environments-move-through-time/) [Janet Echelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/) > [In Amsterdam, the river and canals have been central to city life for the last four centuries,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/in-amsterdam-the-river-and-canals-have-been-central-to-city-life-for/) [Janet Echelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/) > [I recognize that it is through the engagement with my craft - by recognizing an idea and drawing it out, building physical models, collaborating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/i-recognize-that-it-is-through-the-engagement-with-my-craft-by/) [Janet Echelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/) > [The spaces I want to be in are nurturing and soft and saturated with color. Our cities don't have enough of that, and as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/the-spaces-i-want-to-be-in-are-nurturing-and-soft-and-saturated-with/) [Janet Echelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/) > [I believe people can have a profound experience by being surrounded by something beautiful - that's what I aim for. My sculpture is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/i-believe-people-can-have-a-profound-experience-by-being-surrounded/) [Janet Echelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/) > [In Portugal, my sculpture 'She Changes' refers to the town's fishing history, to the era of seafaring trade and discovery. The contemporary site is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/in-portugal-my-sculpture-she-changes-refers-to-the-town-s-fishing/) [Janet Echelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/) > [You can't stumble upon something new and wonderful if you don't have time to stumble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/you-can-t-stumble-upon-something-new-and-wonderful-if-you-don-t-have/) [Janet Echelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/) > [When developing an idea, I remind myself not to start with compromise. I envision the ideal manifestation of the idea, as if I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/when-developing-an-idea-i-remind-myself-not-to-start-with-compromise/) [Janet Echelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/) > [It's good for art to make us think, to give us a shared experience that creates a dialogue, makes us talk to each other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/it-s-good-for-art-to-make-us-think-to-give-us-a-shared-experience/) [Janet Echelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/) > [I believe that public space should be intentional: it should be obvious that you belong,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/i-believe-that-public-space-should-be-intentional-it-should-be/) [Janet Echelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/) > [Advances in technology have opened up possibilities in the cultural realm throughout history. I'm intrigued by developments in technology - as an artist it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/advances-in-technology-have-opened-up-possibilities-in-the-cultural/) [Janet Echelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/) > [I pay two full-time assistants in my studio, plus consultants who are architects, engineers, and landscape architects, as well as lighting designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/i-pay-two-full-time-assistants-in-my-studio-plus-consultants-who-are/) [Janet Echelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/) [Explore all 21 Janet Echelman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“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 > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [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 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/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My whole career I've been interested by the distinction between an emotional and an intellectual response to an artwork.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Janet Echelman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/my-whole-career-i-ve-been-interested-by-the-distinction-between-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/my-whole-career-i-ve-been-interested-by-the-distinction-between-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/janet-echelman-26618_artist_my-whole-career-i-ve-been-interested-by_280896.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/janet-echelman-26618_artist_my-whole-career-i-ve-been-interested-by_280896.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/janet-echelman-26618_artist_my-whole-career-i-ve-been-interested-by_280896.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My whole career I've been interested by the distinction between an emotional and an intellectual response to…” — Janet Echelman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Janet Echelman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-echelman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My whole career I've been interested...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/my-whole-career-i-ve-been-interested-by-the-distinction-between-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-echelman/my-whole-career-i-ve-been-interested-by-the-distinction-between-an/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```