Art Quote by Robert Hughes
“What has our culture lost in 1980 that the avant-garde had in 1890? Ebullience, idealism, confidence, the belief that there was plenty of territory to explore, and above all the sense that art, in the most disinterested and noble way, could find the necessary metaphors by which a radically changing culture could be explained to its inhabitants.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Shock of the New, 1981
The essay argues that modern culture has lost the exuberant optimism and confidence of earlier avant‑garde movements, which once saw endless creative possibilities.
In simple terms: Modern culture lacks the bold optimism of earlier art movements.
Key Takeaway
Seek to revive confidence in artistic exploration.
Themes
art
history
optimism
confidence
culture
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- museum curation
- art education
- creative industries
Key Concepts
cultural criticism
avant‑garde theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What new metaphors can today’s artists create?
- How can confidence be fostered in current cultural discourse?
A Different Perspective
The view may overlook contemporary forms of optimism.
![“[...] a familiar art historical narrative [...] celebrates the triumph of the expressive individual over the collective, of innovation over tradition, and autonomy over interdependence. [...] In fact, a common trope within the modernist tradition of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries…” quote by Grant H. Kester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bc9/grant-h-kester-111457_art_a-familiar-art-historical-narrative-cele_2091391.jpg)
