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Quotes about art

621 quotes from 285 people

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Poetry (like a grand personality) is a growth of many generations — many rare combinations.
To have great poets, there must be great audiences too.
Walt Whitman1819–1892Complete Prose Works (1892), III. Notes Left Over 3. Ventures, on an Old Theme, p.324
- Poetry
I think of few heroic actions, which cannot be traced to the artistical impulse. He who does great deeds, does them from his innate sensitiveness to moral beauty.
Walt Whitman1819–1892“Talk to an Art-Union (A Brooklyn fragment)”, in Complete Prose Works (1892)
- Beauty
It is a beautiful truth that all men contain something of the artist in them. And perhaps it is the case that the greatest artists live and die, the world and themselves alike ignorant what they possess.
Walt Whitman1819–1892“Talk to an Art-Union (A Brooklyn fragment)”, in Complete Prose Works (1892)
That you are here⁠—that life exists and identity,
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
Walt Whitman1819–1892O Me! O Life! (1867)In context
Music makes one feel so romantic⁠—at least it always gets on one’s nerves⁠—which is the same thing nowadays.
Oscar Wilde1854–1900
- Love
- Music
Music is the art which is most nigh to tears and memory.
Oscar Wilde1854–1900
- Music
All art is quite useless.
Oscar Wilde1854–1900The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890)In context
The artist is the creator of beautiful things. To reveal art and conceal the artist is art’s aim.
Oscar Wilde1854–1900The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), The PrefaceIn context
The nineteenth century dislike of realism is the rage of Caliban seeing his own face in a glass.
The nineteenth century dislike of romanticism is the rage of Caliban not seeing his own face in a glass.
Oscar Wilde1854–1900The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), The PrefaceIn context
All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril. It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors. Diversity of opinion about a work of art shows that the work is new, complex, and vital.
Oscar Wilde1854–1900The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), The PrefaceIn context
Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.
Oscar Wilde1854–1900The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), Chapter IIn context
Of course the music is a great difficulty. You see, if one plays good music, people don’t listen, and if one plays bad music people don’t talk.
Oscar Wilde1854–1900The Importance of Being Earnest (1895), First Act, spoken by AlgernonIn context
- Comedy
- Music
The critic is he who can translate into another manner or a new material his impression of beautiful things.
The highest as the lowest form of criticism is a mode of autobiography.
Oscar Wilde1854–1900The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), The PrefaceIn context
The moral life of man forms part of the subject-matter of the artist, but the morality of art consists in the perfect use of an imperfect medium.
Oscar Wilde1854–1900The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), The PrefaceIn context
- Morality
No artist desires to prove anything. Even things that are true can be proved.
Oscar Wilde1854–1900The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), The PrefaceIn context
- Truth & Lies