Ideally a painter (and, generally, an artist) should not become conscious of his insights: without taking the detour through his reflective processes, and incomprehensibly to himself, all his progress should enter so swiftly into the work that he is unable to recognize them in the moment of transition. Alas, the artist who waits in ambush there, watching, detaining them, will find them transformed like the beautiful gold in the fairy tale which cannot remain gold because some small detail was not taken care of.

Summary

This quote by Rainer Maria Rilke suggests that artists, particularly painters, should allow their insights and progress to flow freely and intuitively into their work without conscious deliberation. The artist should not analyze or reflect upon their creative process as it happens, but rather let it seamlessly manifest itself. Rilke warns that if an artist becomes too self-aware and tries to capture and control their insights, they may be distorted or lost altogether. It is vital for artists to trust their instincts and allow the creative energy to flow unimpeded.

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