There are two men inside the artist, the poet and the craftsman. One is born a poet. One becomes a craftsman.

Summary

This quote, often attributed to Nobel laureate Emile Zola, suggests that within an artist, there are two distinct aspects: the poet and the craftsman. The poet represents the innate talent, the natural ability to create and perceive beauty. On the other hand, the craftsman refers to the learned skills, techniques, and craftsmanship acquired through study and practice. While one may be born a poet with natural artistic inclinations, becoming a craftsman requires the artist to refine their skills and put in dedicated effort to develop their technical abilities, ultimately enhancing their artistic expression.

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