It is human nature to want to exchange ideas, and I believe that, at bottom, every artist wants no more than to tell the world what he has to say. I have sometimes heard painters say that they paint 'for themselves': but I think they would soon have painted their fill if they lived on a desert island. The primary purpose of all art forms, whether it's music, literature, or the visual arts, is to say something to the outside world; in other words, to make a personal thought, a striking idea, an inner emotion perceptible to other people's senses in such a way that there is no uncertainty about the maker's intentions.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Artists fundamentally want to communicate their inner thoughts and emotions to others, not just create for themselves.
- In plain terms
- Art is meant to share personal ideas with the world.
- What can you take from it?
- Create art to connect with others, not just for yourself.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What do you want your work to say?
- Who are you creating for?
Another view
Some art is created purely for personal exploration without intended audience.
More from M. C. Escher
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