Artist Quote by Oscar Wilde
““Nearly always in Dutch painting and often in the works of Giorgione or Titian, it is entirely independent of anything definitely poetical in the subject, a kind of form and choice in workmanship which is itself entirely satisfying, and is (as the Greeks would say) an end in itself.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Decay of Lying, Oscar Wilde, 1891
Wilde praises the aesthetic value of painting that exists for its own sake, independent of narrative or moral meaning.
In simple terms: Art can be valuable just by being beautiful.
Appreciate art for its form, not just its story.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- museum visits
- art education
- personal reflection
- creative inspiration
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a painting purely aesthetic?
- How does form influence emotion?
May overlook deeper cultural context or message.