--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Art becomes so specialized as to be…" description: "\"“Art becomes so specialized as to be comprehensible only to artists, and they complain bitterly of public indifference to their work. Competition arise..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/wassily-kandinsky-5828_aesthetics_art-becomes-so-specialized-as-to-be-comp_1851580.jpg" --- # Art becomes so specialized as to be comprehensible only to… ![“Art becomes so specialized as to be comprehensible only to artists, and they complain bitterly of public indifference to their work. Competition arises. The wild battle for success becomes more and more material. Small groups who have fought their way to the top of the chaotic world of art and…” quote by Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/wassily-kandinsky-5828_aesthetics_art-becomes-so-specialized-as-to-be-comp_1851580.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/wassily-kandinsky-5828_aesthetics_art-becomes-so-specialized-as-to-be-comp_1851580.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/wassily-kandinsky-5828_aesthetics_art-becomes-so-specialized-as-to-be-comp_1851580.jpg) > ““Art becomes so specialized as to be comprehensible only to artists, and they complain bitterly of public indifference to their work. Competition arises. The wild battle for success becomes more and more material. Small groups who have fought their way to the top of the chaotic world of art and picture-making entrench themselves in the territory they have won. The public, left far behind, looks on bewildered, loses interest and turns away.”” [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art can become so niche that only insiders understand it, alienating the public and turning success into a material competition. **In simple terms:** Art can become too exclusive, leaving audiences confused. Key Takeaway Make art accessible and inclusive. Themes art exclusivity public engagement materialism competition Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type analytical philosophical commentary When to use this quote - gallery openings - art education programs - community workshops - artist statements Key Concepts aesthetic theory cultural capital elitism Questions to Reflect On - How can artists balance depth with accessibility? - What role should institutions play in bridging the gap? A Different Perspective Exclusivity may limit artistic innovation and audience growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aesthetics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aesthetics/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Chaotic world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaotic-world/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Modernism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modernism/) [Small groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-groups/) ## Related quotes > [The vested interests-if we explain the situation by their influence-can only get the public to act as they wish by manipulating public opinion, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-angell/the-vested-interests-if-we-explain-the-situation-by-their-influence/) [Norman Angell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-angell/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [And with a weak president, we have got a chaotic world. Donald Trump is going to come in. He's going to provide strong leadership.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-j-manafort/and-with-a-weak-president-we-have-got-a-chaotic-world-donald-trump-is/) Paul J. Manafort > [In a chaotic world, U.S. diplomats will probably have even less contact with the people they need to reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ignatius/in-a-chaotic-world-u-s-diplomats-will-probably-have-even-less-contact/) [David Ignatius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ignatius/) > [ The times are chaotic. For me, I would hope that people look at \[Angel\] and gain strength by it. With everything that I do,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/the-times-are-chaotic-for-me-i-would-hope-that-people-look-at-angel/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [We live in a... chaotic world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-guterres/we-live-in-a-chaotic-world/) [Antonio Guterres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-guterres/) > [In some cases, the measured use of force is all that protects us from a chaotic world ruled by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/in-some-cases-the-measured-use-of-force-is-all-that-protects-us-from/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I'm especially baffled by the idea of taking insurance against a U.S. default. If America defaults, we're talking about a chaotic world - Mad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/i-m-especially-baffled-by-the-idea-of-taking-insurance-against-a-u-s/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [“Some choices are better than others and we, as mortal humans, cannot be expected to always choose the best ones. What we can control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-fraseur/some-choices-are-better-than-others-and-we-as-mortal-humans-cannot-be/) [Spencer Fraseur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-fraseur/) > [Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world simply by being there for each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-saline/sisters-function-as-safety-nets-in-a-chaotic-world-simply-by-being/) Carol Saline > [“On the concept of unity- “Thatʼs right-Jesusʼ most pressing concern before leaving the earth was our unity. He was looking ahead, to every generation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-galisewski/on-the-concept-of-unity-that-s-right-jesus-most-pressing-concern/) Ed Galisewski > [“When a soul in sin, under the impetus of grace, turns to God, there is penance; but when a soul in sin refuses to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/when-a-soul-in-sin-under-the-impetus-of-grace-turns-to-god-there-is/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“To be heroic may mean nothing more than this then, to stand in the face of the status quo, in the face of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-alsford/to-be-heroic-may-mean-nothing-more-than-this-then-to-stand-in-the/) Mike Alsford > [“Because art does for me what religion does-- it organizes a seemingly chaotic world. Because it is my way of making sense of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-t-jones/because-art-does-for-me-what-religion-does-it-organizes-a-seemingly/) [Bill T. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-t-jones/) > [You've been told that you're broken, that you're damaged goods and should be labeled victims. I don't buy it. The truth, instead, is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/you-ve-been-told-that-you-re-broken-that-you-re-damaged-goods-and/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) ## More by Wassily Kandinsky > [The joy of life consists in the inevitable, continual triumph of new values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/the-joy-of-life-consists-in-the-inevitable-continual-triumph-of-new/) [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) > [Colors produce a spiritual vibration, the impression they create is important only as a step towards this vibration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/colors-produce-a-spiritual-vibration-the-impression-they-create-is/) [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) > [Color is a means to exert a direct influence on the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/color-is-a-means-to-exert-a-direct-influence-on-the-soul/) [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) > [In their pursuit of the same supreme end, Matisse and Picasso stand side by side, Matisse representing color and Picasso form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/in-their-pursuit-of-the-same-supreme-end-matisse-and-picasso-stand/) [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) > [An empty canvas, apparently really empty, that says nothing and is without significance – almost dull, in fact – in reality, is crammed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/an-empty-canvas-apparently-really-empty-that-says-nothing-and-is/) [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) > [Colour is a power which directly influences the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/colour-is-a-power-which-directly-influences-the-soul/) [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) > [The artist must be blind to distinction between 'recognized' or 'unrecognized' conventions of form, deaf to the transitory teaching and demands of his particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/the-artist-must-be-blind-to-distinction-between-recognized-or/) [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) > [All methods are sacred if they are internally necessary. All methods are sins if they are not justified by internal necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/all-methods-are-sacred-if-they-are-internally-necessary-all-methods/) [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) > [Generally speaking, color directly influences the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/generally-speaking-color-directly-influences-the-soul/) [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) > [The sound of colors is so definite that it would be hard to find anyone who would express bright yellow with bass notes or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/the-sound-of-colors-is-so-definite-that-it-would-be-hard-to-find/) [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) > [Abstract art places a new world, which on the surface has nothing to do with 'reality,' next to the 'real' world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/abstract-art-places-a-new-world-which-on-the-surface-has-nothing-to/) [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) > [The artist is the hand that, by touching this or that key, sets the soul vibrating automatically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/the-artist-is-the-hand-that-by-touching-this-or-that-key-sets-the/) [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) > [Everything shows me its face, its innermost being, its secret soul, which is more often silent than heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/everything-shows-me-its-face-its-innermost-being-its-secret-soul/) [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) > [A painter, who finds no satisfaction in mere representation, however artistic, in his longing to express his inner life, cannot but envy the ease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/a-painter-who-finds-no-satisfaction-in-mere-representation-however/) [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) > [ Those \[things\] that we encounter for the first time immediately have a spiritual effect upon us. A child, for whom every object is new,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/those-things-that-we-encounter-for-the-first-time-immediately-have-a/) [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) [Explore all 100 Wassily Kandinsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) ## More Aesthetics 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/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Pleasure is by no means an infallible critical guide, but it is the least fallible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/pleasure-is-by-no-means-an-infallible-critical-guide-but-it-is-the/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [ Probably the high-watermark of \[Bob\] Dylan's career came after he plugged in his guitar ("Judas!" one fan shouted during a concert) and exploded American… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/probably-the-high-watermark-of-bob-dylan-s-career-came-after-he/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [Road cycling, especially up mountains. It's the heady mixture of endorphins and aesthetics that I love. My wife does it too, and being with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/road-cycling-especially-up-mountains-it-s-the-heady-mixture-of/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [“No man sings as beautifully as when his song is accompanied by a woman’s voice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/no-man-sings-as-beautifully-as-when-his-song-is-accompanied-by-a/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [ \[Alexei Nemov\] has the best feel for the aesthetics of the sport. He doesn't just do a skill; he makes it look gorgeous. Some… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-vidmar/alexei-nemov-has-the-best-feel-for-the-aesthetics-of-the-sport-he/) [Peter Vidmar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-vidmar/) > [The great work of art is the complete banality, and the fault with most banalities is that they are not banal enough. Banality here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/the-great-work-of-art-is-the-complete-banality-and-the-fault-with/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) > [I find the aesthetics of the 20th century hopelessly barren.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-find-the-aesthetics-of-the-20th-century-hopelessly-barren/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [For it is a mad world and it will get madder if we allow the minorities, be they dwarf or giant, orangutan or dolphin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/for-it-is-a-mad-world-and-it-will-get-madder-if-we-allow-the/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We’re surrounded by anonymous, poorly made objects. It’s tempting to think it’s because the people who use them don’t care-just like the people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/we-re-surrounded-by-anonymous-poorly-made-objects-it-s-tempting-to/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved science and art tend to coalesce in aesthetics, plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/after-a-certain-high-level-of-technical-skill-is-achieved-science-and/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [There's only so much you can do until you get on set and see the aesthetics of what you're dealing with. Then you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-urban/there-s-only-so-much-you-can-do-until-you-get-on-set-and-see-the/) [Karl Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-urban/) > [In our view the Olympic idea involves a strong physical culture supplemented on the one hand by mobility, what is so aptly called 'fair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/in-our-view-the-olympic-idea-involves-a-strong-physical-culture/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) [Browse all 302 Aesthetics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aesthetics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Art becomes so specialized as to be comprehensible only to artists, and they complain bitterly of public indifference to their work. Competition arises. The wild battle for success becomes more and more material. Small groups who have fought their way to the top of the chaotic world of art and picture-making entrench themselves in the territory they have won. The public, left far behind, looks on bewildered, loses interest and turns away.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wassily Kandinsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/art-becomes-so-specialized-as-to-be-comprehensible-only-to-artists/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aesthetics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/art-becomes-so-specialized-as-to-be-comprehensible-only-to-artists/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/wassily-kandinsky-5828_aesthetics_art-becomes-so-specialized-as-to-be-comp_1851580.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/wassily-kandinsky-5828_aesthetics_art-becomes-so-specialized-as-to-be-comp_1851580.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/wassily-kandinsky-5828_aesthetics_art-becomes-so-specialized-as-to-be-comp_1851580.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Art becomes so specialized as to be comprehensible only to artists, and they complain bitterly of public…” — Wassily Kandinsky", "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": "Wassily Kandinsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Art becomes so specialized as to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/art-becomes-so-specialized-as-to-be-comprehensible-only-to-artists/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/art-becomes-so-specialized-as-to-be-comprehensible-only-to-artists/#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 } } ] } ```