--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since Courbet, it's been believed that…" description: "\"Since Courbet, it's been believed that painting is addressed to the retina. That was everyone's error. The retinal shudder! Before, painting had other ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a0/marcel-duchamp-2390_could_since-courbet-it-s-been-believed-that-pa_1906892.jpg" --- # Since Courbet, it's been believed that painting is… ![“Since Courbet, it's been believed that painting is addressed to the retina. That was everyone's error. The retinal shudder! Before, painting had other functions: it could be religious, philosophical, moral... our whole century is completely retinal, except for the Surrealists, who tried to go…” quote by Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a0/marcel-duchamp-2390_could_since-courbet-it-s-been-believed-that-pa_1906892.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a0/marcel-duchamp-2390_could_since-courbet-it-s-been-believed-that-pa_1906892.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a0/marcel-duchamp-2390_could_since-courbet-it-s-been-believed-that-pa_1906892.jpg) > “Since Courbet, it's been believed that painting is addressed to the retina. That was everyone's error. The retinal shudder! Before, painting had other functions: it could be religious, philosophical, moral... our whole century is completely retinal, except for the Surrealists, who tried to go outside it somewhat.” [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Painting was reduced to visual appeal, ignoring deeper purposes like spirituality and morality. **In simple terms:** Art became only about sight, losing other meanings. Key Takeaway Recognize and restore multiple functions of art. Themes art perception culture history philosophy Mood critical reflective Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - museum curation - art education - public discourse - creative practice Key Concepts aesthetics meaning function Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance visual and conceptual aspects in art? - What roles should art play beyond visual appeal? A Different Perspective May overlook the importance of visual impact in contemporary art. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) ## Related quotes > [Moreover, the eye contains a big flaw: the retina is inside out. Why would an almighty designer do such a thing? 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