“Art is never finished, only abandoned.”
- April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519
- Italian
- A versatile man (painter, sculptor, architect, inventor, scientist, etc.)
- He created many works of art, including the paintings “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper,” and also left behind many pioneering ideas in science and engineering, such as “blueprints for airplanes” and “anatomical studies.”
Quote
“Art is never finished, only abandoned.”
Explanation
In this quote, Leonardo da Vinci reflects on the creative process and the nature of artistic work. He suggests that art is an ongoing process of creation, refinement, and evolution. While a piece of art may be deemed “finished” at some point, it is never truly complete. There is always more that could be done, more that could be explored, more that could be refined. However, the artist must ultimately decide to let go and abandon the work, whether due to external constraints (such as time or deadlines) or personal judgment. The notion of abandoning rather than completing highlights the infinite possibilities in art and the fact that artistic creation is always subject to the artist’s evolving vision and choices.
Historically, this idea aligns with Da Vinci’s own artistic process. As a perfectionist, Da Vinci was known to have worked on pieces for years, constantly making adjustments and refinements. He was never fully satisfied with his work, always seeing room for improvement. His most famous paintings, like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, underwent multiple revisions and changes throughout their creation, illustrating his belief that art could never truly be “finished.”
In modern terms, this quote resonates with the idea that creativity is a continuous, fluid process. In art, design, or even in writing, we often encounter moments when we feel the work could always be improved, perfected, or altered. Yet, at some point, we must make a decision to release the work into the world. It reflects the tension between perfectionism and the need to move forward, reminding us that true creativity involves knowing when to stop and share, even though we could always find ways to make it better. Da Vinci’s insight encourages creators to trust in their work and to understand that art, in its infinite complexity, can never truly be “finished”—it is always evolving, even after it is abandoned.
