The duty of the artist is to strain against the bonds of the existing style.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Artists should actively challenge and push beyond the limits of current artistic conventions.
- In plain terms
- Artists need to break free from old rules and styles.
- What can you take from it?
- Push boundaries rather than following established norms.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What limits should an artist ignore?
- Is breaking style always progress?
Another view
Some traditions exist for valid structural or cultural reasons.
More from Philip Johnson
The Michelangelos of this world are not to be imitated; it is too difficult, and too dangerous.
Permalink to quote #9 The job of the architect today is to create beautiful buildings. That's all.
Permalink to quote #11 Philip Johnson on Frank Lloyd Wright - He's the greatest architect of the nineteenth century.
Permalink to quote #8
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