“An artist who theorizes about his work is no longer artist but critic.”
The Temptaion of Harringay (1929)
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H. G. Wells142
English writer 1866–1946Related quotes
Richard Strauss (1864–1949) German composer and orchestra director
Quotation made in an article published in 1914. Strauss had refused to sign the Manifesto of German artists and intellectuals supporting the German role in the war. Other signatories included Strauss' friends and colleagues, such as Max Reinhardt, Richard Dehmel, Max Liebermann, Engelbert Humperdink and Felix Wiengartner. The original article quoting Strauss was by Richard Specht, and is quoted by Romain Rolland in his diary entry, found on page 160 of Richard Strauss and Romain Rolland, edited by Rollo Myers, Calder and boyars, London, 1989.
Other sources
Fortunato Depero (1892–1960) Italian painter, writer, sculptor and graphic designer
p 97.
So I think, so I paint (1947)
Randall Jarrell (1914–1965) poet, critic, novelist, essayist
“An Unread Book”, p. 20
The Third Book of Criticism (1969)
D.H. Lawrence book Studies in Classic American Literature
Studies in Classic American Literature (1923)
“These critics with the illusions they've created about artists — it's like idol worship.”
John Lennon (1940–1980) English singer and songwriter
Associated Press via The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/08/lost-john-lennon-interview-30-years-after-death_n_793700.html <br class="br">Rolling Stone interview (1980) <br class="br">Context: These critics with the illusions they've created about artists — it's like idol worship. They only like people when they're on their way up … I cannot be on the way up again. … What they want is dead heroes, like Sid Vicious and James Dean. I'm not interesting in being a dead (expletive) hero. … So forget 'em, forget 'em.
Benito Mussolini (1883–1945) Duce and President of the Council of Ministers of Italy. Leader of the National Fascist Party and subsequen…
Popolo d'Italia (14 July 1920) "The Artificer and the Material," quoted in Mussolini in the Making (1938) by Gaudens Megaro, p. 326
1920s
Francis of Assisi (1182–1226) Catholic saint and founder of the Franciscan Order
This quote was actually composed by Louis Nizer, and published in his book, Between You and Me (1948).
Misattributed
Variant: He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.
Louis Nizer (1902–1994) American lawyer
Between You and Me, Beechurst Press, 1948.