QuoteProject
The artist is not a man who describes, but a man who feels.
E. E. Cummings
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

An artist's true essence lies in their emotional expression rather than mere description.

E. E. Cummings highlights that the role of an artist is not limited to simply depicting the world around them, but instead involves conveying deep emotions and personal feelings through their art. This perspective shifts the focus from mere technical skill to the authenticity of emotional connection in artistic creation.

Themes

ArtistEmotionExpressionArtFeelings

In practice

Example use cases

During an art appreciation class, to emphasize the role of emotions in art creation.

More from E. E. Cummings

I'd rather have two good friends, than 500,000 admirers.
E. E. CummingsRead
I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach ten thousand stars how not to dance.
E. E. CummingsRead
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.
E. E. CummingsRead
When god decided to invent everything he took one reath bigger than a circustent and everything began
E. E. CummingsRead
The Artist is no other than he who unlearns what he has learned, in order to know himself.
E. E. CummingsRead
Nobody else can be alive for you; nor can you be alive for anybody else.
E. E. CummingsRead

Similar quotes

Beautiful forms and compositions are not made by chance, nor can they ever, in any material, be made at small expense. A composition for cheapness and not excellence of workmanship is the most frequent and certain cause of the rapid decay and entire destruction of arts and manufacturers.
Josiah WedgwoodRead
Queen and huntress, chaste and fair Now the sun is laid to sleep, Seated in thy silver chair, State in wonted manner keep: Hesperus entreats thy light Goddess, excellently bright.
Ben JonsonRead
Drawing includes three and a half quarters of the content of painting... Drawing contains everything, except the hue
Jean-Auguste-Dominique IngresRead
Photographs aren't accounts of scrutiny. The shutter is open for a fraction of a second.
David HockneyRead
Most of the time one is discouraged by the work, but now and again by some grace something stands out and invites you to work on it, to elaborate it or animate it in some way. It's a mysterious process.
Leonard CohenRead
When a man talks from his heart, in his moment of truth, he speaks poetry.
Ray BradburyRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.