Art Quote by Oscar Wilde
““Harry," said Basil Hallward, looking him straight in the face, "every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter. The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion. It is not he who is revealed by the painter; it is rather the painter who, on the coloured canvas, reveals himself. The reason I will not exhibit this picture is that I am afraid that I have shown in it the secret of my own soul.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde, 1890
Art reveals the creator’s inner self more than the subject’s outward appearance.
In simple terms: Art shows the artist’s soul.
Key Takeaway
Focus on authentic expression.
Themes
art
self‑discovery
authenticity
Mood
introspective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- painting
- personal reflection
- exhibitions
- self‑analysis
Key Concepts
psychology
identity
creativity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your work reveal you?
- What does the subject mean to you?
A Different Perspective
May overlook the sitter’s perspective or context.
![“[My picture A Portrait of the Artist as a Shadow of His Former Self ] was a way of demonstrating that there was a broad range of possibilities and fairly unlimited utility for a black figure that didn't have to comprise its blackness in order to preserve a place in the field of representation.” quote by Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b2d/kerry-james-marshall-5157_art_my-picture-a-portrait-of-the-artist-as-a_2641070.jpg)
![“I want people to understand that this is a very calibrated image [Portrait of the Artist as a Shadow of His Former Self ], where point by point, very little is left to chance.” quote by Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/970/kerry-james-marshall-5157_art_i-want-people-to-understand-that-this-is_2009456.jpg)
![“You can describe [Portrait of the Artist as a Shadow of His Former Self] as a manifesto of sorts. I saw it as a pivotal turn, a work that really led me down the avenues that brought me to where I am. That picture was the vehicle that helped me clarify a lot of things and I began to understand that…” quote by Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d6b/kerry-james-marshall-5157_art_you-can-describe-portrait-of-the-artist_1969257.jpg)
