--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The purpose of all art is to cause a deep…" description: "\"The purpose of all art is to cause a deep and emotion, also one that is entertaining or pleasing. Out of the depth and entertainment comes value.\" — W...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/w-eugene-smith-17192_art_the-purpose-of-all-art-is-to-cause-a-dee_1005922.jpg" --- # The purpose of all art is to cause a deep and emotion… ![“The purpose of all art is to cause a deep and emotion, also one that is entertaining or pleasing. Out of the depth and entertainment comes value.” quote by W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/w-eugene-smith-17192_art_the-purpose-of-all-art-is-to-cause-a-dee_1005922.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/w-eugene-smith-17192_art_the-purpose-of-all-art-is-to-cause-a-dee_1005922.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/w-eugene-smith-17192_art_the-purpose-of-all-art-is-to-cause-a-dee_1005922.jpg) > “The purpose of all art is to cause a deep and emotion, also one that is entertaining or pleasing. Out of the depth and entertainment comes value.” [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art should evoke deep emotion while also entertaining, creating value from both depth and pleasure. **In simple terms:** Art combines emotion and entertainment to create value. Key Takeaway Create work that moves and delights. Themes art emotion entertainment Mood thoughtful creative Type aesthetic inspirational When to use this quote - gallery exhibition - advertising campaign - personal creative project Key Concepts aesthetic theory value creation Questions to Reflect On - What emotion do you want your audience to feel? - How can you make your work both moving and enjoyable? A Different Perspective Balancing depth and pleasure can dilute message clarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Depth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainment/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [Art is not a pleasure, a solace, or an amusement; art is great matter. Art is an organ of human life, transmitting man's reasonable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/art-is-not-a-pleasure-a-solace-or-an-amusement-art-is-great-matter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Art should cause violence to be set aside and it is only art that can accomplish this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/art-should-cause-violence-to-be-set-aside-and-it-is-only-art-that-can/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I am an idealist. I often feel I would like to be an artist in an ivory tower. Yet it is imperative that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-am-an-idealist-i-often-feel-i-would-like-to-be-an-artist-in-an/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [... to became neighbours and friends instead of journalists. This is the way to make your finest photographs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/to-became-neighbours-and-friends-instead-of-journalists-this-is-the/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [Most photographers seem to operate with a pane of glass between themselves and their subjects. They just can't get inside and know the subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/most-photographers-seem-to-operate-with-a-pane-of-glass-between/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [The purpose of art is to stop time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-purpose-of-art-is-to-stop-time/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [The purpose of art is the lifelong construction of a state of wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-gould/the-purpose-of-art-is-the-lifelong-construction-of-a-state-of-wonder/) [Glenn Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-gould/) > [I have a very, very good relationship with 10 percent of the audience. The only purpose of art is intimacy. That's the only point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hare/i-have-a-very-very-good-relationship-with-10-percent-of-the-audience/) [David Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hare/) > [When you're an artist, you're working, literally, for the sole purpose of art, and when people discredit you, it's probably the most disrespectful thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kali-uchis/when-you-re-an-artist-you-re-working-literally-for-the-sole-purpose/) [Kali Uchis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kali-uchis/) > [“My theory is that the purpose of art is to transmit universal truths of a sort, but of a particular sort, that in art,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walker-percy/my-theory-is-that-the-purpose-of-art-is-to-transmit-universal-truths/) [Walker Percy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walker-percy/) > [To me the purpose of art is to produce something alive...but with a separate, and of course one hopes, with an everlasting life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-green/to-me-the-purpose-of-art-is-to-produce-something-alive-but-with-a/) [Henry Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-green/) > [The purpose of art actually is, in many cases, to make you feel quite uncomfortable. Or at least to go to that place that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/the-purpose-of-art-actually-is-in-many-cases-to-make-you-feel-quite/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [The purpose of art is to re-present nature, not represent it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/the-purpose-of-art-is-to-re-present-nature-not-represent-it/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [I don't really believe in political art. I feel in my heart the purpose of art transcends cultural and class and politics. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-lennon/i-don-t-really-believe-in-political-art-i-feel-in-my-heart-the/) [Sean Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-lennon/) > [Art in relation to life is nothing more than a glove turned inside out. It seems to have the same shapes and contours, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morton-feldman/art-in-relation-to-life-is-nothing-more-than-a-glove-turned-inside/) [Morton Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morton-feldman/) ## More by W. Eugene Smith > [If I can get them to think, get them to feel, get them to see, then I've done about all that I can as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/if-i-can-get-them-to-think-get-them-to-feel-get-them-to-see-then-i-ve/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [... to became neighbours and friends instead of journalists. This is the way to make your finest photographs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/to-became-neighbours-and-friends-instead-of-journalists-this-is-the/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [Most photographers seem to operate with a pane of glass between themselves and their subjects. They just can't get inside and know the subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/most-photographers-seem-to-operate-with-a-pane-of-glass-between/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I was after a set of pictures, so that when people looked at them they would say, ‘This is war’-that the people who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-was-after-a-set-of-pictures-so-that-when-people-looked-at-them-they/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I am an idealist. I often feel I would like to be an artist in an ivory tower. Yet it is imperative that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-am-an-idealist-i-often-feel-i-would-like-to-be-an-artist-in-an/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [The first word I would remove from the folklore of journalism is the word objective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/the-first-word-i-would-remove-from-the-folklore-of-journalism-is-the/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [What's the best type of light? Why that would be available light... and by available light I mean any damn light is available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/what-s-the-best-type-of-light-why-that-would-be-available-light-and/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I am constantly torn between the attitude of the conscientious journalist who is a recorder and interpreter of the facts and of the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-am-constantly-torn-between-the-attitude-of-the-conscientious/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [You can't photograph if you're not in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/you-can-t-photograph-if-you-re-not-in-love/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I think photojournalism is documentary photography with a purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-think-photojournalism-is-documentary-photography-with-a-purpose/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I would that my photographs might be, not the coverage of a news event, but an indictment of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-would-that-my-photographs-might-be-not-the-coverage-of-a-news-event/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [Many claim I am a photographer of tragedy. In the greater sense I am not, for though I often photograph where the tragic emotion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/many-claim-i-am-a-photographer-of-tragedy-in-the-greater-sense-i-am/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [My camera, my intentions stopped no man from falling. Nor did they aid him after he had fallen. It could be said that photographs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/my-camera-my-intentions-stopped-no-man-from-falling-nor-did-they-aid/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I didn’t write the rules. Why would I follow them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-didn-t-write-the-rules-why-would-i-follow-them/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) > [I can’t stand these damn shows on museum walls with neat little frames, where you look at the images as if they were pieces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-eugene-smith/i-can-t-stand-these-damn-shows-on-museum-walls-with-neat-little/) [W. Eugene Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) [Explore all 37 W. Eugene Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-eugene-smith/) ## 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 > [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": "The purpose of all art is to cause a deep and emotion, also one that is entertaining or pleasing. 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