Harold Speed on Modern Art

I am slowly working my way through Harold Speed's book, Oil Painting Techniques And Materials. I'm only through the first chapter but there are some great quotes and content that I want to share before I forget them.


I have never been fond of swearing (most likely because it was never used and punishable within my home growing up) and Harold, while talking about modern art, tied the two together so well. Hopefully the below quote will make you think twice about swearing, or encourage you to expand your painting "vocabulary" (or if necessary, both).

The use of swear words by ignorant people is quite excusable, because they have not the wit to use, or the knowledge of, just those words which would forcefully express what they want to say. And failing to give their expression the force they desire by the legitimate use of words, they throw in some nasty expression of entirely alien association, like a bad smell, but calculated to give a shock; which gives them the satisfaction of having made a forceful remark. The violent use of colours and forms adopted by much so-called advanced art nowadays, is just like these swear words. They want to create a sensation, and not having the wit to use the wonderful instruments of expression that are at the disposal of the modern artist who is prepared to follow the straight and narrow way, they would destroy the restraints of tradition and rush to the use of swearing yellows and screeching reds, of clashing lines and jarring planes, in lieu of anything really forceful to say.