Art Quote by Robert Barry
“I was at one point thinking about being an art historian, when I was in school. And not being an artist, but I decided I was going to be an artist but I'm really mad for art history and the masters mostly.”
About This Quote
The speaker reflects on a career crossroads, feeling torn between creating art and studying its history, revealing a conflict between practice and scholarship.
In simple terms: Choosing between making art and studying it caused inner conflict.
Key Takeaway
Clarify your true passion before committing.
Themes
career identity
art
history
self‑discovery
Mood
conflicted
thoughtful
Type
personal
reflective
When to use this quote
- college major decision
- career counseling
- personal reflection
- portfolio development
Key Concepts
artistic practice
art history
vocational choice
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you value creating or understanding art more?
- How can you integrate both interests?
A Different Perspective
Balancing creation and analysis can limit mastery in either field.
![“I mean, part of the justification for art is art history, the fact that you're part of this tradition. You can't really operate outside of it. So looking for what this work is really about, if I look at Velázquez, if I look at Las Meninas or The Tapestry Weavers [1657] or something and really…” quote by Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4ab/robert-barry-3413_art_i-mean-part-of-the-justification-for-art_3173043.jpg)
![“Stop thinking about art works as objects, and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences... That solves a lot of problems ... Art is something that happens, a process, not a quality, and all sorts of things can make it happen ... [W]hat makes a work of art ‘good’ for you is not…” quote by Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/636/brian-eno-776_art_stop-thinking-about-art-works-as-objects_1085892.jpg)
