--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This would be a distortion of their…" description: "\"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 pai..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e8/mark-rothko-11292_been_this-would-be-a-distortion-of-their-mean_198810.jpg" --- # This would be a distortion of their meaning, since the… ![“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.” quote by Mark Rothko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e8/mark-rothko-11292_been_this-would-be-a-distortion-of-their-mean_198810.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e8/mark-rothko-11292_been_this-would-be-a-distortion-of-their-mean_198810.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e8/mark-rothko-11292_been_this-would-be-a-distortion-of-their-mean_198810.jpg) > “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.” [Mark Rothko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rothko/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decorative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decorative/) [Distortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distortion/) [Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense/) [Intimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimate/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) ## Related quotes > [I can't verbalize the internal meaning of pictures whatsoever. 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