Art Quote by Paul Valéry
““Our fine arts were developed, their types and uses were established, in times very different from the present, by men whose power of action upon things was insignificant in comparison with ours. But the amazing growth of our techniques, the adaptability and precision they have attained, the ideas and habits they are creating, make it a certainty that profound changes are impending in the ancient craft of the Beautiful. In all the arts there is a physical component which can no longer be considered or treated as it used to be, which cannot remain unaffected by our modern knowledge and power. For the last twenty years neither matter nor space nor time has been what it was from time immemorial. We must expect great innovations to transform the entire technique of the arts, thereby affecting artistic invention itself and perhaps even bringing about an amazing change in our very notion of art.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Future of the Arts”, 1930
Artistic practices will be transformed by modern science, altering materials, perception, and the very concept of beauty.
In simple terms: Science reshapes art and its meaning.
Key Takeaway
Embrace interdisciplinary innovation in creative work.
Themes
art
science
innovation
change
Mood
speculative
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
forward‑looking
When to use this quote
- museum curation
- digital media
- architectural design
- educational curricula
- creative research
Key Concepts
materiality
perception
technological impact
Questions to Reflect On
- What new materials could redefine artistic expression?
- How might scientific methods alter aesthetic values?
A Different Perspective
May underestimate the role of tradition and human intuition.
