--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It isn't up to the painter to define the…" description: "\"It isn't up to the painter to define the symbols. Otherwise it would be better if he wrote them out in so many words! The public who look at the pictur..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/pablo-picasso-552_artist_it-isn-t-up-to-the-painter-to-define-the_2997433.jpg" --- # It isn't up to the painter to define the symbols… ![“It isn't up to the painter to define the symbols. Otherwise it would be better if he wrote them out in so many words! The public who look at the picture must interpret the symbols as they understand them.” quote by Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/pablo-picasso-552_artist_it-isn-t-up-to-the-painter-to-define-the_2997433.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/pablo-picasso-552_artist_it-isn-t-up-to-the-painter-to-define-the_2997433.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/pablo-picasso-552_artist_it-isn-t-up-to-the-painter-to-define-the_2997433.jpg) > “It isn't up to the painter to define the symbols. Otherwise it would be better if he wrote them out in so many words! The public who look at the picture must interpret the symbols as they understand them.” [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists shouldn't dictate meaning; viewers interpret symbols in their own way. **In simple terms:** Artists leave meaning to viewers. Key Takeaway Create, then let audience interpret. Themes art interpretation artist intent viewer agency Mood philosophical inspirational Type art theory When to use this quote - gallery exhibitions - art education - creative workshops Key Concepts semiotics subjectivity Questions to Reflect On - How does personal experience shape art interpretation? - What responsibilities do artists have to guide meaning? A Different Perspective Over‑explaining can limit personal connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Symbols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbols/) ## Related quotes > [In fact, words are well adapted for description and the arousing of emotion, but for many kinds of precise thought other symbols are much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-b-s-haldane/in-fact-words-are-well-adapted-for-description-and-the-arousing-of/) [John B. S. Haldane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-b-s-haldane/) > [But even in the Christian religion, much of its real meaning is hidden by words that are misleading and symbols that but few understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/but-even-in-the-christian-religion-much-of-its-real-meaning-is-hidden/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [Architects, painters, and sculptors must recognize anew and learn to grasp the composite character of a building both as an entity and in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gropius/architects-painters-and-sculptors-must-recognize-anew-and-learn-to/) [Walter Gropius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gropius/) > [As far as I am concerned, a painting speaks for itself. What is the use of giving explanations, when all is said and done?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/as-far-as-i-am-concerned-a-painting-speaks-for-itself-what-is-the-use/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [But when I am alone, I do not have the effrontery to consider myself an artist at all, not in the grand old meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/but-when-i-am-alone-i-do-not-have-the-effrontery-to-consider-myself/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [It is my misfortune - and probably my delight - to use things as my passions tell me. What a miserable fate for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/it-is-my-misfortune-and-probably-my-delight-to-use-things-as-my/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [What do you think an artist is An imbecile who has only his eyes if he is a painter, or his ears if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/what-do-you-think-an-artist-is-an-imbecile-who-has-only-his-eyes-if-2/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [My mother said to me, 'If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/my-mother-said-to-me-if-you-are-a-soldier-you-will-become-a-general/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Who sees the human face correctly: the photographer, the mirror, or the painter?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/who-sees-the-human-face-correctly-the-photographer-the-mirror-or-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [What do you think an artist is? An imbecile who has only his eyes if he's a painter, or ears if he's a musician,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/what-do-you-think-an-artist-is-an-imbecile-who-has-only-his-eyes-if/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [What a trade! Poor painters! They always wish to be understood, and they are analysed instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/what-a-trade-poor-painters-they-always-wish-to-be-understood-and-they/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [“Symbols are miracles we have recorded into language.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/symbols-are-miracles-we-have-recorded-into-language/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [A poor self-image is the magnifying glass that can transform a trivial mistake or an imperfection into an overwhelming symbol of personal defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/a-poor-self-image-is-the-magnifying-glass-that-can-transform-a/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [You can have Asians being leading men that are sex symbols. You can have leading women powering through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/you-can-have-asians-being-leading-men-that-are-sex-symbols-you-can/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [“We know that children with autism like order, that they are often very visual and that they can be quite literal. They deserve beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele-devine/we-know-that-children-with-autism-like-order-that-they-are-often-very/) [Adele Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele-devine/) ## More by Pablo Picasso > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [When I haven't any blue I use red.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/when-i-haven-t-any-blue-i-use-red/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [The Parthenon is really only a farmyard over which someone put a roof; colonades and sculptures were added because there were people in Athens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/the-parthenon-is-really-only-a-farmyard-over-which-someone-put-a-roof/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [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/) > [If I paint a hammer and sickle people may think it is a representation of Communism, but for me it is only a hammer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/if-i-paint-a-hammer-and-sickle-people-may-think-it-is-a/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [One never knows what one is going to do. One starts a painting and then it becomes something quite different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/one-never-knows-what-one-is-going-to-do-one-starts-a-painting-and/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Now there is fame! Of all - hunger, misery, the incomprehension by the public - fame is by far the worst. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/now-there-is-fame-of-all-hunger-misery-the-incomprehension-by-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [It takes a long time to become young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/it-takes-a-long-time-to-become-young/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth at least the truth that is given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/we-all-know-that-art-is-not-truth-art-is-a-lie-that-makes-us-realize/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [You see these thick curtains shut out the daylight: artificial light suits me a great deal better; it's absolutely steady, and much more exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/you-see-these-thick-curtains-shut-out-the-daylight-artificial-light/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [The best calculation is the absence of calculation. Once you have attained a certain level of recognition, others generally figure that when you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/the-best-calculation-is-the-absence-of-calculation-once-you-have/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Action is the foundational key to all success. --Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/action-is-the-foundational-key-to-all-success-pablo-picasso/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [The earth doesn't have a housekeeper to do the dusting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/the-earth-doesn-t-have-a-housekeeper-to-do-the-dusting/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [God is really only another artist. He invented the giraffe, the elephant and the cat. He has no real style, He just goes on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/god-is-really-only-another-artist-he-invented-the-giraffe-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/a-baby-will-make-love-stronger-days-shorter-nights-longer-bankroll/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Explore all 477 Pablo Picasso quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It isn't up to the painter to define the symbols. Otherwise it would be better if he wrote them out in so many words! The public who look at the picture must interpret the symbols as they understand them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pablo Picasso" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/it-isn-t-up-to-the-painter-to-define-the-symbols-otherwise-it-would/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/it-isn-t-up-to-the-painter-to-define-the-symbols-otherwise-it-would/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/pablo-picasso-552_artist_it-isn-t-up-to-the-painter-to-define-the_2997433.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/pablo-picasso-552_artist_it-isn-t-up-to-the-painter-to-define-the_2997433.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/pablo-picasso-552_artist_it-isn-t-up-to-the-painter-to-define-the_2997433.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It isn't up to the painter to define the symbols. Otherwise it would be better if he wrote them out in so…” — Pablo Picasso", "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": "Pablo Picasso", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It isn't up to the painter...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/it-isn-t-up-to-the-painter-to-define-the-symbols-otherwise-it-would/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/it-isn-t-up-to-the-painter-to-define-the-symbols-otherwise-it-would/#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 } } ] } ```