--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The work of art itself is . . . a…" description: "\"The work of art itself is . . . a vibrant, magical, and exemplary object which returns us to the world in some way more open and enriched.\" — Susan Sontag" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/susan-sontag-332_art_the-work-of-art-itself-is-a-vibrant-magi_526793.jpg" --- # The work of art itself is . . . a vibrant, magical, and… ![“The work of art itself is . . . a vibrant, magical, and exemplary object which returns us to the world in some way more open and enriched.” quote by Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/susan-sontag-332_art_the-work-of-art-itself-is-a-vibrant-magi_526793.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/susan-sontag-332_art_the-work-of-art-itself-is-a-vibrant-magi_526793.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b7/susan-sontag-332_art_the-work-of-art-itself-is-a-vibrant-magi_526793.jpg) > “The work of art itself is . . . a vibrant, magical, and exemplary object which returns us to the world in some way more open and enriched.” [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art acts as a portal, enriching perception and opening new ways to experience the world. **In simple terms:** Art expands our view. Key Takeaway Engage with art to broaden understanding. Themes aesthetics perception enrichment Mood contemplative curious Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - museum visits - creative workshops - personal reflection - educational curricula Key Concepts visual culture philosophy of art experience Questions to Reflect On - What does art reveal that everyday life hides? - How does art change your worldview? A Different Perspective Art may be inaccessible to some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Magical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magical/) [Works of art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/works-of-art/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Truth be told, there are lots of companies that provide exemplary phone support. DirecTV, Virgin America and Apple are a few that regularly exceed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hamel/truth-be-told-there-are-lots-of-companies-that-provide-exemplary/) [Gary Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hamel/) > [Parents...rigidly monitor the selection of television programs...and other forms of entertainment for your family. Foster in your homes a love of knowledge through uplifting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-haight/parents-rigidly-monitor-the-selection-of-television-programs-and/) [David B. Haight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-haight/) > [A work of art can be called revolutionary if, by virtue of the aesthetic transformation, it represents, in the exemplary fate of individuals, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/a-work-of-art-can-be-called-revolutionary-if-by-virtue-of-the/) [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) > [In fact, punk rock means exemplary manners to your fellow human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/in-fact-punk-rock-means-exemplary-manners-to-your-fellow-human-beings/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [And I think Taylor Swift is just an exemplary young lady. It's kind of interesting to see what a profound songwriter she is. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reese-witherspoon/and-i-think-taylor-swift-is-just-an-exemplary-young-lady-it-s-kind-of/) [Reese Witherspoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reese-witherspoon/) > [He who does the most good is the greatest man. Power, authority, dignity, honors, wealth and station--these are so far valuable as they put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jortin/he-who-does-the-most-good-is-the-greatest-man-power-authority-dignity/) [John Jortin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jortin/) > [One exemplary act may affect one life, or even millions of lives. All those who set standards for themselves, who strengthen the bonds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/one-exemplary-act-may-affect-one-life-or-even-millions-of-lives-all/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [Exemplary persons are steadfast in the face of adversity, while petty persons are engulfed by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/exemplary-persons-are-steadfast-in-the-face-of-adversity-while-petty/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A man of such obvious and exemplary charm must be a liar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-brookner/a-man-of-such-obvious-and-exemplary-charm-must-be-a-liar/) [Anita Brookner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-brookner/) > [An artist is only an exemplary person if you can see in his works how life goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-handke/an-artist-is-only-an-exemplary-person-if-you-can-see-in-his-works-how/) [Peter Handke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-handke/) > [By international standards, many of the U.K.'s policies for civil society are exemplary. 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Truly profound and original insights are to be found only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/excellence-is-a-better-teacher-than-mediocrity-the-lessons-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Susan Sontag > [the appetite for thinking must be regulated, as all sensible people know, for it may stifle one's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/the-appetite-for-thinking-must-be-regulated-as-all-sensible-people/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [We are ruled by quotations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/we-are-ruled-by-quotations/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [Unfortunately, moral beauty in art - like physical beauty in a person - is extremely perishable. It is nowhere so durable as artistic or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/unfortunately-moral-beauty-in-art-like-physical-beauty-in-a-person-is/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [Like the collector, the photographer is animated by a passion that, even when it appears to be for the present, is linked to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/like-the-collector-the-photographer-is-animated-by-a-passion-that/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [ Anthropology has always struggled with an intense, fascinated repulsion towards its subject… \[The anthropologist\] submits himself to the exotic to confirm his own inner… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/anthropology-has-always-struggled-with-an-intense-fascinated/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [“Why not eliminate schooling between age 12-16? 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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 > [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. 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