Ben Shahn Quotes

Powerful Ben Shahn for Daily Growth

About Ben Shahn

Ben Shahn (1898-1969), an influential American artist and social documentarian, was born on February 12, 1898, in Kovno, Lithuania, then part of the Russian Empire. Emigrating to the United States at the age of six, Shahn grew up in New York City, where he developed a deep appreciation for art and social justice. Inspired by the works of masters like Diego Rivera, Jacques Lipchitz, and Marc Chagall, Shahn began his artistic journey as a self-taught artist. He enrolled at the National Academy of Design but found it too restrictive, preferring to explore his own style through the works of contemporary artists. Shahn's art was deeply rooted in social realism, often depicting the struggles and triumphs of working-class Americans. His most famous work, "The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti," a series of murals completed in 1932, immortalized the story of two Italian immigrant anarchists who were executed for murder despite widespread belief in their innocence. Throughout his career, Shahn was also a prolific writer, penning essays, articles, and books on art and politics. His quotes reflect his profound beliefs and offer insights into his artistic vision: "Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a key to unlock the door of imagination." Shahn's art was not just a reflection of society; it was a call to action. He used his talent to challenge the status quo and shed light on injustices. His major works include "The City" series (1942-1957), which depicted the urban landscape of New York, and "The New York Scenes" series (1953-1960), which explored the city's diverse neighborhoods. Ben Shahn passed away on March 14, 1969, leaving behind a rich legacy that continues to inspire artists and activists alike. His art and words serve as a testament to his commitment to social justice and his unwavering belief in the power of art to change the world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The function of art is to do more than tell it like it is—it's to imagine what it might be."

Ben Shahn's quote suggests that the purpose of art transcends mere representation of reality; instead, it invites us to envision possibilities beyond the present moment. Art isn't limited to depicting 'what is', but encourages us to create 'what might be'. This could encompass innovation, imagination, and progressive thought, enabling society to evolve and grow through creative expression.

"Art is the lie that tells the truth."

Ben Shahn's quote, "Art is the lie that tells the truth," suggests that while art may not always reflect reality in a literal sense, it conveys deeper truths about human experience, emotions, and the world around us. Through artistic expression, artists can distort or exaggerate aspects of life to illuminate hidden truths, provoke thought, and inspire empathy in their audience. In essence, art's ability to transcend the limitations of factual accuracy makes it a powerful tool for exploring and understanding the human condition.

"There are no 'good' Nazis. There are no 'bad' Jews."

This quote by Ben Shahn emphasizes that one should not make moral distinctions between members of a hate group like the Nazis, who advocated for genocide and oppression, and their victims, such as the Jews. It underscores the idea that all forms of discrimination, intolerance, and hate are unacceptable and harmful to society. The quote serves as a reminder that no one should be justified in perpetrating violence or hatred against others based on their race, religion, or any other factor.

"Art is the weapon of the future."

The quote by Ben Shahn, "Art is the weapon of the future," suggests that art has a significant role in shaping our future. It implies that just as a weapon is used to defend or attack, art can be utilized as a tool to express ideas, provoke thought, inspire change, and challenge societal norms. In essence, this quote underscores the power of art in driving progress and fostering transformation.

"In art, as in life, there is always a choice between love and fear."

This quote emphasizes that in both art and life, individuals have a constant choice to approach situations with either love or fear. Love represents empathy, understanding, and connection, while fear embodies apprehension, judgment, and separation. The creative process is a reflection of our personal values and emotions; thus, choosing love means creating from a place of compassion, curiosity, and openness, whereas opting for fear leads to works that stem from uncertainty, harshness, or isolation. By recognizing this choice and making the conscious decision to act with love, we foster growth, connection, and positive impact in our art, as well as in our lives overall.

I was brought in, not in the photographic department at all, I was brought in on a thing called Special Skills. I was to do posters, pamphlets, murals, propaganda in general, you know.

- Ben Shahn

Propaganda, Brought, Posters, Photographic

When you talk about war on poverty it doesn't mean very much; but if you can show to some degree this sort of thing then you can show a great deal more of how people are living and a very great percentage of our people today.

- Ben Shahn

Some, Deal, Very, Our People

An amateur is someone who supports himself with outside jobs which enable him to paint. A professional is someone whose wife works to enable him to paint.

- Ben Shahn

Wife, Which, Works, Supports

Roy was just another bureaucrat to me, but I realized very soon that without Roy this thing would have died.

- Ben Shahn

Realized, Another, Very, Roy

I confess that Roy was a little bit dictatorial in his editing and he ruined quite a number of my pictures, which he stopped doing later. He used to punch a hole through a negative. Some of them were incredibly valuable. He didn't understand at the time.

- Ben Shahn

Doing, Through, Some, Roy

Now, when I came on to Washington to begin my job, I was so interested in photography at that time that I really would have preferred to work with Stryker than with my department, which was more artistic if you wish.

- Ben Shahn

Wish, Now, Would, Department

It used to be twelve people crowded around a sewing table; now it's ten.

- Ben Shahn

Now, Crowded, Twelve, Table

In '38, this time I did a job for Mr. Stryker. I went on his payroll at about half the salary I was getting before, to cover what he called Harvest in Ohio.

- Ben Shahn

Harvest, Half, Mr, Payroll

In the South or in the mine country, wherever you point the camera there is a picture.

- Ben Shahn

Country, Mine, South, Wherever

The time when I had desire to go to the United States I didn't have a penny. It was in the middle of the depression, you know. I couldn't get as far as Hoboken at that time.

- Ben Shahn

Desire, United States, Penny

Some time ago, we went to Asia and took a camera along, and I began to do what I'd done even years ago doing people. I couldn't get interested in it. And I did hundreds of photographs of details of the monuments as sculpture.

- Ben Shahn

Doing, Monuments, Some, Camera

It's a little bit like my inability to read a guide book before I go anywhere. I can read it after I've been there and by the same logic I refuse to accept any technical stunts from anybody. I refused to learn more than I knew and I confess I missed a great deal.

- Ben Shahn

Deal, Been, Technical, Great Deal

I've been asked a great deal about the influence I've had with my work and it's impossible to say, you know.

- Ben Shahn

Work, Deal, Been, Great Deal

When a man returned from the field and we'd look at the work, we'd criticize each other very genuinely and never offensively. And we would avoid all tricks, angle shots were just horrible to us.

- Ben Shahn

Other, Very, Genuinely, Angle

So, I was offered this job to come down there but first it was suggested that I take a trip around the country in the areas in which we worked to see what it's all about, and I tell you that was a revelation to me.

- Ben Shahn

Country, Tell, Which, Suggested

I did take my camera along, as I felt there wouldn't be enough time to draw the things I wanted to do. I did some drawing and did a lot of photography but I was not part of Stryker's outfit at all.

- Ben Shahn

Some, Part, Felt, Enough Time

I didn't care where my works were published.

- Ben Shahn

Where, Works, Were, Published

I remember traveling around in Arkansas with Senator Robinson, and I told him what this little trick was. He felt very much part of it and had me take pictures of people unbeknownst to them.

- Ben Shahn

I Remember, Very, Arkansas, Senator

I feel, having the choices I had, I felt I had more control over my own medium than I did over photography.

- Ben Shahn

Over, My Own, Having, Medium

I was primarily interested in people, and people in action, so that I did nothing photographically in the sense of doing buildings for their own sake or a still life or anything like that.

- Ben Shahn

Doing, Like, Still, Sake

I was so impressed with the work we were doing and I was very involved ideologically in photography - that I arranged an exhibition at the College Art Association. The first exhibition I picked the photographs and so on and we had an exhibition in New York.

- Ben Shahn

College, Very, Exhibition, Photographs

I still love to look at photographs but I couldn't do it myself anymore.

- Ben Shahn

Love, Myself, Still, Photographs

I felt very strongly the whole social impact of that depression, you know, and I felt very strongly about the efforts that this Resettlement Administration was trying to accomplish; resettling people, helping them, and so on.

- Ben Shahn

Social, Very, Administration, Depression

I became interested in photography when I found my own sketching was inadequate.

- Ben Shahn

Sketching, Found, Became, Photography

Of course I realize that photography is not the technical facility as much as it is the eye, and this decision that one makes for the moment at which you are going to snap, you know.

- Ben Shahn

Decision, Technical, Which, Photography

Now, my knowledge of photography was terribly limited.

- Ben Shahn

Now, Limited, Terribly, Photography

It's pretty hard to measure influence of written or visual material.

- Ben Shahn

Measure, Pretty, Material, Visual

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