Artist Quote by Virginia Woolf
“I spent an hour looking at pots and carpets in the museums the other day, until the desire to describe them became like the desire for the lusts of the flesh.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Common Reader, 1925
The desire to describe museum objects becomes an intense, almost primal urge, akin to bodily lust.
In simple terms: Describing art feels like a deep, sensual craving.
Channel that intensity into thoughtful description.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- museum visits
- art criticism
- creative writing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does sensual desire shape artistic perception?
- Can you balance intensity with objectivity?
Such intense focus may distract from broader context.