Art finds her own perfection within, and not outside of herself. She is not to be judged by any external standard of resemblance. She is a veil, rather than a mirror.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Wilde claims art's perfection lies within itself, not in external resemblance; it is a veil, not a mirror.
- In plain terms
- Art is judged by its own inner standards, not by copying reality.
- What can you take from it?
- Value art for its internal logic, not its realism.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do we define internal standards?
- When is external reference valuable?
Another view
Some art intentionally reflects reality.
More from Oscar Wilde
Hard work is simply the refuge of people who have nothing whatever to do.
Permalink to quote #16 All art is immoral.
Permalink to quote #18 We have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language.
Permalink to quote #15
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