The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life. Since man is mortal, the only immortality possible for him is to leave something behind him that is immortal since it will always move. This is the artist's way of scribbling Kilroy was here on the wall of the final and irrevocable oblivion through which he must someday pass.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the artist's aspiration to capture the essence of life and create something that transcends time. It suggests that art has the power to freeze a moment in time, allowing it to come alive again for future generations. As mortal beings, the only way for humans to achieve a form of immortality is by leaving a lasting impact through their creations. In this context, the artist's act of creating becomes a way of marking their existence on the canvas of eternity, leaving behind a meaningful and enduring legacy.

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