--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Painting is neither decorative amusement…" description: "\"Painting is neither decorative amusement, nor the plastic invention of felt reality; it must be every time: invention, discovery, revelation.\" — Max Ernst" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79f/max-ernst-26817_amusement_painting-is-neither-decorative-amusement_1116174.jpg" --- # Painting is neither decorative amusement, nor the plastic… ![“Painting is neither decorative amusement, nor the plastic invention of felt reality; it must be every time: invention, discovery, revelation.” quote by Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79f/max-ernst-26817_amusement_painting-is-neither-decorative-amusement_1116174.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79f/max-ernst-26817_amusement_painting-is-neither-decorative-amusement_1116174.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79f/max-ernst-26817_amusement_painting-is-neither-decorative-amusement_1116174.jpg) > “Painting is neither decorative amusement, nor the plastic invention of felt reality; it must be every time: invention, discovery, revelation.” [Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art must constantly be an act of creation, uncovering new truths rather than merely decorating or mimicking reality. **In simple terms:** Art should always be inventive and revealing. Key Takeaway Create, discover, reveal. Themes creativity innovation truth Mood inspirational philosophical Type artistic literary When to use this quote - gallery openings - artist statements - creative workshops Key Concepts aesthetic philosophy artistic process Questions to Reflect On - What does invention mean in art? - How can discovery be measured? A Different Perspective Risk of becoming overly abstract and inaccessible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amusement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Felt Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-reality-2997705/) [Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention/) [Invention Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention-felt-2250403/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Painting Decorative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting-decorative-2250405/) [Plastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plastic/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Revelations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revelations/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Painting is not for me either decorative amusement, or the plastic invention of felt reality; it must be every time: invention, discovery, revelation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/painting-is-not-for-me-either-decorative-amusement-or-the-plastic/) [Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) > [I wasn't born into a religious home, but I was just not a materialist. I didn't believe the material world was all there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-derrickson/i-wasn-t-born-into-a-religious-home-but-i-was-just-not-a-materialist/) [Scott Derrickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-derrickson/) > [I don't think you can come into your wisdom until you have made mistakes on your own skin and felt them in reality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-don-t-think-you-can-come-into-your-wisdom-until-you-have-made/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [A symbol is indeed the only possible expression of some invisible essence, a transparent lamp about a spiritual flame; while allegory is one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/a-symbol-is-indeed-the-only-possible-expression-of-some-invisible/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [I realized, "Gee, you're making the same film over and over here." I just kept making them for my own amusement, but also with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-realized-gee-you-re-making-the-same-film-over-and-over-here-i-just/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [My first job was at an amusement park in Virginia. It was the worst. I loved the park but once I'd worked there all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/my-first-job-was-at-an-amusement-park-in-virginia-it-was-the-worst-i/) [Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [Ordinary people simply don't know what books mean to us, shut up here. Reading, learning, and the radio are our amusements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/ordinary-people-simply-don-t-know-what-books-mean-to-us-shut-up-here/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-does-not-consist-in-pastimes-and-amusements-but-in-virtuous/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [I just started writing for my own amusement and occasionally singing in little clubs around Los Angeles. Then I wrote 'The Rose,' and through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-mcbroom/i-just-started-writing-for-my-own-amusement-and-occasionally-singing/) [Amanda McBroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-mcbroom/) > [By amusing myself with all these games, all this nonsense, all these picture puzzles, I became famous... I am only a public entertainer who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/by-amusing-myself-with-all-these-games-all-this-nonsense-all-these/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) ## More by Max Ernst > [When the artist finds himself he is lost. The fact that he has succeeded in never finding himself is regarded by Max Ernst as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/when-the-artist-finds-himself-he-is-lost-the-fact-that-he-has/) [Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) > [Collage is the noble conquest of the irrational, the coupling of two realities, irreconcilable in appearance, upon a plane which apparently does not suit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/collage-is-the-noble-conquest-of-the-irrational-the-coupling-of-two/) [Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) > [All good ideas arrive by chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/all-good-ideas-arrive-by-chance/) [Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) > [Creativity is that marvelous capacity to grasp mutually distinct realities and draw a spark from their juxtaposition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/creativity-is-that-marvelous-capacity-to-grasp-mutually-distinct/) [Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) > [Art has got nothing to do with taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/art-has-got-nothing-to-do-with-taste/) [Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) > [The role of the painter . . . is to project that which sees itself in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/the-role-of-the-painter-is-to-project-that-which-sees-itself-in-him/) [Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) > [Collage is a supersensitive and scrupulously accurate instrument, similar to a seismograph, which is able to record the exact amount of the possibility of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/collage-is-a-supersensitive-and-scrupulously-accurate-instrument/) [Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) > [My paintings are not meant to be tasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/my-paintings-are-not-meant-to-be-tasted/) [Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) > [Who made art history? Not the most reasonable people. The mad men did. If painting is the mirror of a time, it must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/who-made-art-history-not-the-most-reasonable-people-the-mad-men-did/) [Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) > [Art has nothing to do with taste. Art is not there to be tasted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/art-has-nothing-to-do-with-taste-art-is-not-there-to-be-tasted/) [Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) > [I succeeded in simply attending at the birth of all my works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/i-succeeded-in-simply-attending-at-the-birth-of-all-my-works/) [Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) > [I have never seen a beautiful painting of a beautiful woman. But you can take an ugly woman and make a beautiful painting of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/i-have-never-seen-a-beautiful-painting-of-a-beautiful-woman-but-you/) [Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) > [Before he goes into the water, a diver cannot know what he will bring back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/before-he-goes-into-the-water-a-diver-cannot-know-what-he-will-bring/) [Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) > [And Loplop, bird superior, has transformed himself into flesh without flesh and will dwell among us...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/and-loplop-bird-superior-has-transformed-himself-into-flesh-without/) [Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) > [Painting is not for me either decorative amusement, or the plastic invention of felt reality; it must be every time: invention, discovery, revelation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/painting-is-not-for-me-either-decorative-amusement-or-the-plastic/) [Max Ernst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) [Explore all 21 Max Ernst quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/) ## More Amusement quotes > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [By amusing myself with all these games, all this nonsense, all these picture puzzles, I became famous... I am only a public entertainer who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/by-amusing-myself-with-all-these-games-all-this-nonsense-all-these/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [I just started writing for my own amusement and occasionally singing in little clubs around Los Angeles. Then I wrote 'The Rose,' and through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-mcbroom/i-just-started-writing-for-my-own-amusement-and-occasionally-singing/) [Amanda McBroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-mcbroom/) > [Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-does-not-consist-in-pastimes-and-amusements-but-in-virtuous/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Ordinary people simply don't know what books mean to us, shut up here. Reading, learning, and the radio are our amusements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/ordinary-people-simply-don-t-know-what-books-mean-to-us-shut-up-here/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [My first job was at an amusement park in Virginia. It was the worst. I loved the park but once I'd worked there all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/my-first-job-was-at-an-amusement-park-in-virginia-it-was-the-worst-i/) [Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [I realized, "Gee, you're making the same film over and over here." I just kept making them for my own amusement, but also with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-realized-gee-you-re-making-the-same-film-over-and-over-here-i-just/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [I like these boots," I told Vayl. "Do you think they'd sell them to me cheap? I keep ruining mine." "Since when do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rardin/i-like-these-boots-i-told-vayl-do-you-think-they-d-sell-them-to-me/) [Jennifer Rardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rardin/) > [It has to be now,” he insisted, a flick of amusement in his voice. He nudged his burgeoning loins against her. “After all, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/it-has-to-be-now-he-insisted-a-flick-of-amusement-in-his-voice-he/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/act-as-if-the-universe-is-a-prodigious-miracle-created-for-your/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) [Browse all 567 Amusement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Painting is neither decorative amusement, nor the plastic invention of felt reality; it must be every time: invention, discovery, revelation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Max Ernst" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/painting-is-neither-decorative-amusement-nor-the-plastic-invention-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amusement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/painting-is-neither-decorative-amusement-nor-the-plastic-invention-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79f/max-ernst-26817_amusement_painting-is-neither-decorative-amusement_1116174.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79f/max-ernst-26817_amusement_painting-is-neither-decorative-amusement_1116174.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79f/max-ernst-26817_amusement_painting-is-neither-decorative-amusement_1116174.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Painting is neither decorative amusement, nor the plastic invention of felt reality; it must be every time…” — Max Ernst", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Max Ernst", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-ernst/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Painting is neither decorative amusement, nor...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/painting-is-neither-decorative-amusement-nor-the-plastic-invention-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-ernst/painting-is-neither-decorative-amusement-nor-the-plastic-invention-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```