Been Quote by Mark Rothko
“This would be a distortion of their meaning, since the pictures are intimate and intense, and are the opposite of what is decorative; and have been painted in a scale of normal living rather than an institutional scale.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Art and Its Meaning, 1955
The work challenges decorative expectations, emphasizing intimate, intense scale over institutional grandeur.
In simple terms: Art should feel personal, not merely decorative.
Key Takeaway
Value intimate, intense expression.
Themes
art
intimacy
scale
decorative vs institutional
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- gallery curation
- personal art collection
- museum exhibition
- public art installations
Key Concepts
aesthetic theory
visual perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How does scale affect emotional impact?
- When is decorative art appropriate?
A Different Perspective
May overlook practical constraints of large‑scale public art.
