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| Self-Portrait (1804) |
"A painter can turn pennies into gold, for all subjects are capable of being transformed into poems."
French Artist
1780 - 1867
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The Valpincon Bather (1806) |
Some people believe that art is only about painting beauty. Other people believe that writers should not write about certain subjects. And still others seek to censor artists and writers. Think about books that have been banned in school districts or art that is considered pornographic. The American Library Association publishes online a list of 100 novels that have been banned from time to time.
What subjects do you avoid painting or writing about? In what ways do you censor your own creative tendencies. Do you paint to please others? Do you avoid writing about certain events because it could hurt others? How do you choose the subjects that you paint or write about? Or does the subject choose you? Do write about what interests you or do you write what you think the world wants to read? Consider how many writers now write about vampires since the success of Ann Rice. Or how many writers follow in the footsteps of the Harry Potter books.
Do you think Ingres is correct? Can a painter can turn pennies into gold? Can a writer make any subject poetic?
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| Louise de Broglie (1845) |
