Art Quote by Julian Barnes
““Flaubert believed that it was impossible to explain one art form in terms of another, and that great paintings required no words of explanation. Braque thought the ideal state would be reached when we said nothing at all in front of a painting. But we are very far from reaching that state. We remain incorrigibly verbal creatures who love to explain things, to form opinions, to argue. Put us in front of a picture and we chatter, each in our different way. Proust, when going round an art gallery, liked to comment on who the people in the pictures reminded him of in real life; which might have been a deft way of avoiding the direct aesethetic confrontation. But it is a rare picture that stuns, or argues, us into silence. And if one does, it is only a short time before we want to explain and understand the very silence into which we have been plunged.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes, 2011
The passage argues that humans are inherently verbal and tend to interpret visual art through language, making true silent contemplation of a painting rare and fleeting.
In simple terms: People always try to explain art with words, preventing pure silence.
Key Takeaway
Embrace silence when viewing art.
Themes
art
language
interpretation
silence
human nature
Mood
contemplative
introspective
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- gallery visits
- art education
- personal reflection
- museum tours
Key Concepts
aesthetics
verbalism
contemplation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we train ourselves to experience art without verbal analysis?
- What does silence reveal about our relationship with visual media?
A Different Perspective
Some viewers may find silence uncomfortable or feel compelled to articulate thoughts.
