Art Will Lead You By the Hand

“Don’t be an art critic, but paint, there lies salvation.” – Paul Cézanne

It’s interesting because my first thought after reading this is: but we need art critics. That’s not the point here. Gaining feedback as an artist is imperative. I’m sure someone as skilled as Cezanne respects those who helped him perfect his art. What is being said here is that salvation lies in painting rather than criticism. The freedom from the weight of social expectation comes from the act of creating over and over and over again. There’s a point you reach in art, where you are grasped by the hand of creativity and flung into a world that requires no explanation. It is spirit. It is sacred and secret. It is holy and separate from the world where man pounds shit into your skull. That’s a bit dramatic, but the point is that there’s no salvation in being the critic because being the critic means you must rely on social norms in order to judge.

When you’re ready to be saved from the harshness of the world, art will undoubtably lead you by the hand.