You see, in this world there is one awful thing, and that is that everyone has his reasons.
Jean RenoirRead
To the question, ‘Is the cinema an art?’ my answer is, ‘what does it matter?’... You can make films or you can cultivate a garden. Both have as much claim to being called an art as a poem by Verlaine or a painting by Delacroix… Art is ‘making.’ The art of poetry is the art of making poetry. The art of love is the art of making love... My father never talked to me about art. He could not bear the word.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Art is defined by the process of creation, regardless of the medium.
In this quote, Jean Renoir emphasizes that art is not limited to traditional forms like cinema, poetry, or painting. He argues that the act of creation itself, whether it be filmmaking or gardening, embodies artistry. Renoir reflects on his father's indifference towards the term 'art', suggesting that the true essence of art lies in the act of making rather than the labels we assign to it.
Themes
ArtCreationMakingFilmCinemaExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the importance of various forms of creative expression.
More from Jean Renoir
All quotes →A film director is not a creator, but a midwife. His business is to deliver the actor of a child that he did not know he had inside him.
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A director makes only one movie in his life. Then he breaks it into pieces and makes it again.
Jean RenoirRead
The real hell of life is that everyone has his reasons.
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I believe that perfection handicaps cinema.
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A Director Makes Only One Movie in His Life. Then He Breaks It Into Pieces and Makes It Again.
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