Art Quote by Kenneth Coutts-Smith
“The revelatory or visionary is the province of the 'private' artist, who in order to render his personal world comprehensible or even tolerable, must force others to believe in it and therefore share it. It is said that 'the poet does not wish to be understood, but to be believed.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Private Artist" by Kenneth Coutts-Smith, 2005
Artists must make their personal visions understandable and compelling, urging others to believe and share their inner world, even if they do not seek full comprehension.
In simple terms: Artists share personal visions to inspire belief.
Key Takeaway
Create work that invites others into your inner world.
Themes
art
belief
personal vision
communication
Mood
introspective
encouraging
Type
reflective
inspirational
When to use this quote
- gallery shows
- public readings
- collaborative projects
- teaching art
Key Concepts
subjectivity
shared experience
authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance personal truth with audience accessibility?
- What risks arise when demanding belief?
A Different Perspective
Audiences may resist or misinterpret intimate expressions.
![“You have not been mistaken in supposing my views and feeling to be in favor of the abolition of war. Of my dispos[i]tion to maintain peace until its condition shall be made less tolerable than that of war itself, the world has had proofs, and more, perhaps, than it has approved. I hope it is…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/77f/thomas-jefferson-43_abolition_you-have-not-been-mistaken-in-supposing_184816.jpg)
![“The language of images [of inner-oriented artists] does not follow a code structure that is evident and widely accepted, but is more likely to be a complex of symbols that have a profound meaning for the artists themselves.” quote by Kenneth Coutts-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e89/kenneth-coutts-smith-59005_accepted_the-language-of-images-of-inner-oriented_633586.jpg)
