"What do you think an artist is? An imbecile
who has only eyes, if he is a painter, or ears if he is a musician, or a lyre
in every chamber of his heart if he is a poet, or even if he is a boxer, just
his muscles?Far from it: at the same
time, he is also a political being, constantly aware of the heartbreaking,
passionate, or delightful things that happen in the world, shaping himself
completely in their image.
How could it
be possible to feel no interest in other people, and with a cool indifference
to detach yourself from the very life which they bring to you so
abundantly?No, painting is not done to
decorate apartments.It is an instrument
of war."