Art Quote by Madeleine L'Engle
““So perhaps the reason I shuddered at the idea of writing something about 'Christian art' is that to paint a picture or to write a story or to compose a song is an incarnational activity. The artist is a servant who is willing to be a birth-giver. In a very real sense the artist (male or female) should be like Mary, who, when the angel told her that she was to bear the Messiah, was obedient to the command. Obedience is an unpopular word nowadays, but the artist must be obedient to the work, whether it be a symphony, a painting, or a story for a small child. I believe that each work of art, whether it is a work of great genius or something very small, comes to the artist and says 'Here I am. Enflesh me. Give birth to me.' And the artist either says 'My soul doth magnify the Lord' and willingly becomes the bearer of the work, or refuses; but the obedient response is not necessicarily a conscious one, and not everyone has the humble, courageous obedience of Mary.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Writing of Christian Art, 1975
The artist must obey the creative call like a birth‑giver, surrendering self to let the work emerge.
In simple terms: Artists should be obedient to the work, allowing it to be born through them.
Key Takeaway
Embrace obedience to your creative calling.
Themes
creativity
obedience
spirituality
artistry
Mood
reverent
inspired
reflective
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- painting
- writing
- music
- child storytelling
- theatrical performance
Key Concepts
incarnation
humility
divine inspiration
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance obedience to art with personal authenticity?
- When does surrender become self‑neglect?
A Different Perspective
Obedience can be stifling if it suppresses personal voice or critical thinking.
