--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Naturalistic art, as we know it, is an…" description: "\"Naturalistic art, as we know it, is an art which imitates the appearance of things, not as they are in reality, but as they appear at one moment from t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/sigfried-giedion-52771_appearance_naturalistic-art-as-we-know-it-is-an-art_2001445.jpg" --- # Naturalistic art, as we know it, is an art which imitates… ![“Naturalistic art, as we know it, is an art which imitates the appearance of things, not as they are in reality, but as they appear at one moment from the point of view of a single spectator. This is the effect of perspective. Nothing of this sort existed in prehistory.” quote by Sigfried Giedion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/sigfried-giedion-52771_appearance_naturalistic-art-as-we-know-it-is-an-art_2001445.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/sigfried-giedion-52771_appearance_naturalistic-art-as-we-know-it-is-an-art_2001445.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/sigfried-giedion-52771_appearance_naturalistic-art-as-we-know-it-is-an-art_2001445.jpg) > “Naturalistic art, as we know it, is an art which imitates the appearance of things, not as they are in reality, but as they appear at one moment from the point of view of a single spectator. This is the effect of perspective. Nothing of this sort existed in prehistory.” [Sigfried Giedion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigfried-giedion/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perspective makes art show a single viewer’s view rather than objective reality, a modern development absent in prehistoric art. **In simple terms:** Art reflects a viewer’s momentary view, not true reality. Key Takeaway Recognize how perspective shapes perception. Themes art perception history visuality Mood reflective analytical Type theoretical critical When to use this quote - museum curation - architectural design - visual arts education - digital rendering - photography Key Concepts subjectivity visual perception historical development Questions to Reflect On - How does perspective influence your interpretation of reality? - In what ways can multiple viewpoints be integrated? A Different Perspective Perspective can distort truth and limit broader understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appearance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearance/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Imitates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-imitates-268739/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Existed Prehistory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existed-prehistory-3523662/) [Know Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-art/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Naturalistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naturalistic-822403/) [Naturalistic Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naturalistic-art-3523661/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/) [Prehistory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prehistory/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Spectators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spectators/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) ## Related quotes > [Realistic, naturalistic art had dissembled the medium, using art to conceal art; Modernism used art to call attention to art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-greenberg/realistic-naturalistic-art-had-dissembled-the-medium-using-art-to/) [Clement Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-greenberg/) > [Abstraction returned as soon as artists tried to come to closer grips with reality than naturalistic representation permitted...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigfried-giedion/abstraction-returned-as-soon-as-artists-tried-to-come-to-closer-grips/) [Sigfried Giedion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigfried-giedion/) > [At first, art imitates life. 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Art is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/what-is-art-art-is-tar-rearranged-art-is-tar-on-canvas-or-tar-on-tarp/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Sometimes art imitates life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/sometimes-art-imitates-life/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [I feel like art imitates life and life imitates art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tia-mowry/i-feel-like-art-imitates-life-and-life-imitates-art/) [Tia Mowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tia-mowry/) > [“I am for an art that imitates the human, that is comic, if necessary, or violent, or whatever is necessary. I am for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claes-oldenburg/i-am-for-an-art-that-imitates-the-human-that-is-comic-if-necessary-or/) [Claes Oldenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claes-oldenburg/) > [I'm an actor, and I keep observing people and their reactions to figure out what they are thinking. 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Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. 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I have made my peace with it after a long and frankly exhausting battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-m-ok-with-my-appearance-i-have-made-my-peace-with-it-after-a-long/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [There is no society or conversation to be kept up in the world without good-nature, or something which must bear its appearance and supply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-no-society-or-conversation-to-be-kept-up-in-the-world/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Appearance records are pretty special. Mine means a lot to me, not only because I love stats, but because it shows that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james/appearance-records-are-pretty-special-mine-means-a-lot-to-me-not-only/) [David James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james/) > [Every man would fall in love with their voice, their lovely appearance, but no man would ever get past that. 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