--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Paint, not the thing but the effect which…" description: "\"Paint, not the thing but the effect which it produces.\" — Stephane Mallarme" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/st-phane-mallarm-15488_artist_paint-not-the-thing-but-the-effect-which_1911892.png" --- # Paint, not the thing but the effect which it produces. ![“Paint, not the thing but the effect which it produces.” quote by Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/st-phane-mallarm-15488_artist_paint-not-the-thing-but-the-effect-which_1911892.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/st-phane-mallarm-15488_artist_paint-not-the-thing-but-the-effect-which_1911892.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/st-phane-mallarm-15488_artist_paint-not-the-thing-but-the-effect-which_1911892.png) > “Paint, not the thing but the effect which it produces.” [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on the impact of art rather than its literal subject, emphasizing emotional resonance. **In simple terms:** Art should aim to evoke feeling, not just depict objects. Key Takeaway Create works that move the audience. Themes art emotion perception Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - gallery exhibitions - creative writing - visual design - marketing campaigns Key Concepts symbolism aesthetic theory Questions to Reflect On - How does your work affect viewers? - What emotions do you aim to trigger? A Different Perspective Effect may be misinterpreted without context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Effect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effect/) [Effect Produces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effect-produces-2884661/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Paint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paint/) [Paint Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paint-thing-2884660/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Produce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produce/) [Thing Effect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-effect-1617835/) ## Related quotes > [Blue eye can tell a lot of thing but it can also effect someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria/blue-eye-can-tell-a-lot-of-thing-but-it-can-also-effect-someone/) [Maria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria/) > [The worse of ingratitude lies not in the ossified heart of him who commits it, but we find it in the effect it produces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/the-worse-of-ingratitude-lies-not-in-the-ossified-heart-of-him-who/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [Part of what Im about is seeing how I can paint the same thing differently instead of different things the same way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-katz/part-of-what-im-about-is-seeing-how-i-can-paint-the-same-thing/) [Alex Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-katz/) > [No good to paint in the head - what happens is what happens when you put the paint down - you can only hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-guston/no-good-to-paint-in-the-head-what-happens-is-what-happens-when-you/) [Philip Guston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-guston/) > [Success. I don't believe it has any effect on me. For one thing I always expected it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/success-i-don-t-believe-it-has-any-effect-on-me-for-one-thing-i/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [It is better to be the cause of an effect rather than be the effect that was caused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-machowicz/it-is-better-to-be-the-cause-of-an-effect-rather-than-be-the-effect/) [Richard Machowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-machowicz/) > [The "Lucifer Effect" describes the point in time when an ordinary, normal person first crosses the boundary between good and evil to engage in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/the-lucifer-effect-describes-the-point-in-time-when-an-ordinary/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [The first effect of adjusting to other people is that one becomes boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/the-first-effect-of-adjusting-to-other-people-is-that-one-becomes/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [Like so many Boomers, I saw 'Lawrence of Arabia' in 1962 when it was first released and when we were young teenagers. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/like-so-many-boomers-i-saw-lawrence-of-arabia-in-1962-when-it-was/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [I think you can go back in history and look at what the effect in Asia and the world was of a divided, fractured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-c-blair/i-think-you-can-go-back-in-history-and-look-at-what-the-effect-in/) [Dennis C. Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-c-blair/) > [The worst thing that can happen is that the effect that they create behind you is bigger than the performance you're putting out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/the-worst-thing-that-can-happen-is-that-the-effect-that-they-create/) [Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/) > [Joy is the effect which comes when we use our powers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/joy-is-the-effect-which-comes-when-we-use-our-powers/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [I read neither good nor bad about me. I let it not even in my life, so it has no effect on me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-read-neither-good-nor-bad-about-me-i-let-it-not-even-in-my-life-so/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [You don't want people to look at something and think that was a fantastic special effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-anne-hurd/you-don-t-want-people-to-look-at-something-and-think-that-was-a/) [Gale Anne Hurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-anne-hurd/) > [Elegance has a bad effect on my constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/elegance-has-a-bad-effect-on-my-constitution/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) ## More by Stephane Mallarme > [The flesh is sad, alas, and I have read all the books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/the-flesh-is-sad-alas-and-i-have-read-all-the-books/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [Dreams have as much influence as actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/dreams-have-as-much-influence-as-actions/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [I have made a long enough descent into the void to speak with certainty. There is nothing but beauty--and beauty has only one perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/i-have-made-a-long-enough-descent-into-the-void-to-speak-with/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [A soul trembling to sit by a hearth so bright, To exist again, it’s enough if I borrow from Your lips the breath of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/a-soul-trembling-to-sit-by-a-hearth-so-bright-to-exist-again-it-s/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [In reading, a lonely quiet concert is given to our minds; all our mental faculties will be present in this symphonic exaltation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/in-reading-a-lonely-quiet-concert-is-given-to-our-minds-all-our/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [O naked flower of my lips, you lie! I await a thing unknown or perhaps, unaware of the mystery and your cries you give,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/o-naked-flower-of-my-lips-you-lie-i-await-a-thing-unknown-or-perhaps/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [“...for we are always at one with the instrument of our magic spells.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/for-we-are-always-at-one-with-the-instrument-of-our-magic-spells/) [Stéphane Mallarmé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [“exiled spirits, red as the spotless toe of a seraph spread with scarlet by the shame of rumpled dawns”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/exiled-spirits-red-as-the-spotless-toe-of-a-seraph-spread-with/) [Stéphane Mallarmé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [The reproach that superficial people formulate against Manet, that whereas once he painted ugliness, now he paints vulgarity, falls harmlessly to the ground, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/the-reproach-that-superficial-people-formulate-against-manet-that/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [A throw of the dice will never abolish chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/a-throw-of-the-dice-will-never-abolish-chance/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [As for me, Poetry takes the place of love, because it is enamored of itself, and because this self-lust has a delightful dying fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/as-for-me-poetry-takes-the-place-of-love-because-it-is-enamored-of/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [It is in front of the the paper that the artist creates himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/it-is-in-front-of-the-the-paper-that-the-artist-creates-himself/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [Yes, I know, we are merely empty forms of matter, but we are indeed sublime in having invented God and our soul. So sublime,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/yes-i-know-we-are-merely-empty-forms-of-matter-but-we-are-indeed/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [The world exists to end up in a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/the-world-exists-to-end-up-in-a-book/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [Everything that is sacred and that wishes to remain so must envelop itself in mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/everything-that-is-sacred-and-that-wishes-to-remain-so-must-envelop/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) [Explore all 35 Stephane Mallarme quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“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/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [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 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/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Paint, not the thing but the effect which it produces.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephane Mallarme" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/paint-not-the-thing-but-the-effect-which-it-produces/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/paint-not-the-thing-but-the-effect-which-it-produces/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/st-phane-mallarm-15488_artist_paint-not-the-thing-but-the-effect-which_1911892.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/st-phane-mallarm-15488_artist_paint-not-the-thing-but-the-effect-which_1911892.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/st-phane-mallarm-15488_artist_paint-not-the-thing-but-the-effect-which_1911892.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Paint, not the thing but the effect which it produces.” — Stephane Mallarme", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Stephane Mallarme", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Paint, not the thing but the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/paint-not-the-thing-but-the-effect-which-it-produces/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/paint-not-the-thing-but-the-effect-which-it-produces/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```