--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just let the artist sign an empty canvas…" description: "\"Just let the artist sign an empty canvas or a frame, with the inscription, 'I had such and such a concept in mind' for this work. The artist then need ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/semir-zeki-25396_art_just-let-the-artist-sign-an-empty-canvas_2810771.jpg" --- # Just let the artist sign an empty canvas or a frame, with… ![“Just let the artist sign an empty canvas or a frame, with the inscription, 'I had such and such a concept in mind' for this work. The artist then need not bother with producing the work, and therefore need not be worried about being dis-satisfied. All he or she needs to do is to sell it to a…” quote by Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/semir-zeki-25396_art_just-let-the-artist-sign-an-empty-canvas_2810771.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/semir-zeki-25396_art_just-let-the-artist-sign-an-empty-canvas_2810771.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/semir-zeki-25396_art_just-let-the-artist-sign-an-empty-canvas_2810771.jpg) > “Just let the artist sign an empty canvas or a frame, with the inscription, 'I had such and such a concept in mind' for this work. The artist then need not bother with producing the work, and therefore need not be worried about being dis-satisfied. All he or she needs to do is to sell it to a collector. The collector will have the guarantee that the artist thought about the work, even if momentarily, and therefore be satisfied.” [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He proposes that an artist can sell a concept without creating a work, satisfying both artist and collector through idea ownership. **In simple terms:** Artists could sell ideas alone, not physical art. Key Takeaway Value ideas as art. Themes art concept economics Mood critical analytical Type theoretical economic When to use this quote - gallery sales - artist contracts - collector negotiations - creative licensing Key Concepts conceptual art intellectual property market dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Is an idea enough for artistic fulfillment? - How does this affect the art market? A Different Perspective May devalue physical craftsmanship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-need-732850/) [Artist Sign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-sign-2737373/) [Artist Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-thought-1110810/) [Bother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bother/) [Canvas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/) [Collectors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collectors/) [Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) [Empty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty/) [Empty canvas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty-canvas/) [Guarantee Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guarantee-artist-1442633/) [Guarantees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guarantees/) [Guarantees that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guarantees-that/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inscriptions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inscriptions/) [Let Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-artist-2049987/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Satisfied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfied/) [Sells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sells/) [Worried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worried/) ## Related quotes > [“The truth is most Artist when they sign contracts. They don’t care what it says or about terms and conditions. All they want is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/the-truth-is-most-artist-when-they-sign-contracts-they-don-t-care/) [De philosopher DJ Kyos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/) > [Becoming an artist cannot be taught. A degree and diligence is not a guarantee that one can become an 'artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/becoming-an-artist-cannot-be-taught-a-degree-and-diligence-is-not-a/) [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) > [No one would want to pay a penny for an empty canvas by me. But it would be quite another if the empty canvas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/no-one-would-want-to-pay-a-penny-for-an-empty-canvas-by-me-but-it/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Hubris itself will not let you be an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/hubris-itself-will-not-let-you-be-an-artist/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [Nature is garrulous to the point of confusion, let the artist be truly taciturn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/nature-is-garrulous-to-the-point-of-confusion-let-the-artist-be-truly/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [I like to tell the artist what the song or album means to me, in detail. Then I let the artist run with it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-dejesus/i-like-to-tell-the-artist-what-the-song-or-album-means-to-me-in/) [Rick DeJesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-dejesus/) > [Let the artist have just enough to eat, and the tools of this trade: ask nothing of him. Materially make the life of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-bell/let-the-artist-have-just-enough-to-eat-and-the-tools-of-this-trade/) [Clive Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-bell/) > [It's important to let each artist do what makes him or her feel comfortable. Success should be a by-product of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/it-s-important-to-let-each-artist-do-what-makes-him-or-her-feel/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [When you give an artist a canvas, you shouldn't tell him exactly how much paint to put on it, or exactly how sharp the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hundt/when-you-give-an-artist-a-canvas-you-shouldn-t-tell-him-exactly-how/) [Reed Hundt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hundt/) > [Let the artist show his world, the beauty that was born with him, that never was before and never will be again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-bahr/let-the-artist-show-his-world-the-beauty-that-was-born-with-him-that/) [Hermann Bahr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-bahr/) > [My style is a part of my music. You can't be an artist and not put any thought or effort into the way you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/future/my-style-is-a-part-of-my-music-you-can-t-be-an-artist-and-not-put-any/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/future/) > [ \[My mother\] would have me smothered like the Princes in the Tower if I showed any inclination for being an artist. She thought all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-meadow-sutcliffe/my-mother-would-have-me-smothered-like-the-princes-in-the-tower-if-i/) [Francis Meadow Sutcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-meadow-sutcliffe/) > [It was not my dream to be an artist. How could it have been? I thought, artist, much like a leader, was something you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-naan/it-was-not-my-dream-to-be-an-artist-how-could-it-have-been-i-thought/) [K'naan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-naan/) > [I wasn't sure I was an artist, so I thought maybe I just was throwing ideas out for people to consider.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-holzer/i-wasn-t-sure-i-was-an-artist-so-i-thought-maybe-i-just-was-throwing/) [Jenny Holzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-holzer/) > [When I lived in New York, I was still ascribing to this idea of being a somewhat tortured artist. I thought that would make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-lee/when-i-lived-in-new-york-i-was-still-ascribing-to-this-idea-of-being/) [Greta Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-lee/) ## More by Semir Zeki > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Artists erase reality to a greater or lesser extent, and substitute their own reality - created by their brains, instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/artists-erase-reality-to-a-greater-or-lesser-extent-and-substitute/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Any artistic achievement that is tailored to conform to social demands rather than to the real, uninhibited, feelings of its creator, is destined not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/any-artistic-achievement-that-is-tailored-to-conform-to-social/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [The Japanese, if I understand them, are masters of the unsaid and the unstated, of subtlety and ambiguity, all of which constitute powerful stimulants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/the-japanese-if-i-understand-them-are-masters-of-the-unsaid-and-the/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [The reaction was immediate. The blood flow was in proportion to how much the painting was liked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/the-reaction-was-immediate-the-blood-flow-was-in-proportion-to-how/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Laughter is very infectious, and why it should be so is a most interesting neurological problem. But it also has other, more physiological, benefits.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/laughter-is-very-infectious-and-why-it-should-be-so-is-a-most/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [I view all art as an effort to translate brain concepts into a work. These brain concepts are synthetic ones - the result of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/i-view-all-art-as-an-effort-to-translate-brain-concepts-into-a-work/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [I have the strong suspicion that when the brain's greed system is in operation, those parts of the brain that regulate ethical conduct are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/i-have-the-strong-suspicion-that-when-the-brain-s-greed-system-is-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Most artists, or at least most of the ones I know, deny having a philosophical outlook that they try to translate into their works.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/most-artists-or-at-least-most-of-the-ones-i-know-deny-having-a/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [I can really recommend a beautifully but sparsely furnished room with empty walls!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/i-can-really-recommend-a-beautifully-but-sparsely-furnished-room-with/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [What is creative is the seeking of perfection - and not attaining it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/what-is-creative-is-the-seeking-of-perfection-and-not-attaining-it/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Self-censorship, whether known or unknown, is an unwelcome brake on creativity; it stifles self-expression and hence prevents a work from reaching the heights of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/self-censorship-whether-known-or-unknown-is-an-unwelcome-brake-on/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [The female brain may confer distinctive economic advantages, to the benefit of all, and we should, therefore, pursue seriously having equal numbers of women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/the-female-brain-may-confer-distinctive-economic-advantages-to-the/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [I gather that the dopaminergic system in the reward centres of the brain respond even more vigorously to the expectation of reward than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/i-gather-that-the-dopaminergic-system-in-the-reward-centres-of-the/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [I always expect the worst from this evil and wicked world and am often pleasantly surprised when the worst does not come to pass,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/i-always-expect-the-worst-from-this-evil-and-wicked-world-and-am/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) [Explore all 22 Semir Zeki quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) ## More Art quotes > [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/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [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/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [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 only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [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/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Just let the artist sign an empty canvas or a frame, with the inscription, 'I had such and such a concept in mind' for this work. 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