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The character of the artist doesn't enter into the nature of the art
Lucian Freud
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The artist's personal qualities do not influence the essence of their artwork.

This quote by Lucian Freud suggests that the intrinsic value and nature of art exists independently from the personal characteristics or identities of the artists who create it. It emphasizes the idea that artistic expression should be appreciated on its own merits, rather than through the lens of the artist's character or life experiences.

Themes

ArtArtistCharacterExpressionValue

In practice

Example use cases

In an art critique to highlight the importance of the work itself rather than the artist's persona.

More from Lucian Freud

Since the model he so faithfully copies is not going to be hung up next to the picture... it is of no interest whether it is an accurate copy of the model.
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When I look at a body it gives me choice of what to put in a painting, what will suit me and what won't. There is a distinction between fact and truth. Truth has an element of revelation about it. If something is true, it does more than strike one as merely being so.
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It is the only point of getting up every morning: to paint, to make something good, to make something even better than before, not to give up, to compete, to be ambitious.
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I paint people, not because of what they are like, not exactly in spite of what they are like, but how they happen to be.
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I could never put anything into a picture that wasn't actually there in front of me. That would be a pointless lie, a mere bit of artfulness.
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I have a hatred of habit and routine. And what dogs love is just that. They like regular everything, and I don't have regular anything. I have a timetable, but no routine.
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