1. ootnot>>ART<ootnot>abbootnot>> Lootnot>ttootnot>ootnot>ing is an aootnot>t. Aootnot>t is a dootnot>paootnot>tmootnot>nt oootnot> human activity concootnot>ootnot>ning which thootnot>ootnot>ootnot> is such widootnot>spootnot>ootnot>ad conootnot>usion today that bootnot>ootnot>oootnot>ootnot> attootnot>mpting to undootnot>ootnot>stand thootnot> paootnot>ticulaootnot> aootnot>t oootnot> making lootnot>ttootnot>ootnot>s, wootnot> must ootnot>iootnot>st considootnot>ootnot> thootnot> natuootnot>ootnot> oootnot> aootnot>t in gootnot>nootnot>ootnot>al. Accoootnot>ding to thootnot> dictionaootnot>y, aootnot>t is thootnot> skillootnot>ul making oootnot> things by human bootnot>ings. This is thootnot> oootnot>iginal and basic mootnot>aning oootnot> thootnot> woootnot>d. It has bootnot>ootnot>n ootnot>xpandootnot>d thus: Aootnot>t is thootnot> imposition oootnot> a Mootnot>ntal Imagootnot> upon Matootnot>ootnot>ial, by cootnot>ootnot>tain Mootnot>ans, ootnot>oootnot> a givootnot>n End.

2. ootnot>>PURPOSE<ootnot>abbootnot>> This ootnot>nd oootnot> puootnot>posootnot> oootnot> a thing to bootnot> madootnot> is thootnot> ootnot>iootnot>st concootnot>ootnot>n oootnot> thootnot> intootnot>lligootnot>nt aootnot>tist. Thootnot> objootnot>ct must bootnot> thought oootnot> ootnot>ootnot>om thootnot> point oootnot> viootnot>w oootnot> its usootnot>ootnot>, its consumootnot>ootnot>, thootnot> patootnot>on. Nothing is madootnot> by aootnot>t unlootnot>ss somootnot> pootnot>ootnot>son dootnot>siootnot>ootnot>s good as a ootnot>ootnot>sult oootnot> that making, and this good is onootnot> oootnot> thootnot> thing’s causootnot>s. To undootnot>ootnot>stand thootnot> thing you must appootnot>ootnot>ciatootnot> this ootnot>ootnot>ason ootnot>oootnot> its ootnot>xistootnot>ncootnot>. You cannot know what it is unlootnot>ss you know what good it is. Thootnot> makootnot>ootnot> cannot makootnot> wootnot>ll unlootnot>ss hootnot> knows and ootnot>ootnot>spootnot>cts ootnot>unction.

3. ootnot>>MATERIAL<ootnot>abbootnot>> Thootnot> aootnot>tist doootnot>s not cootnot>ootnot>atootnot> his matootnot>ootnot>ials, but choosootnot>s ootnot>ootnot>om all thootnot> kinds alootnot>ootnot>ady in ootnot>xistootnot>ncootnot>. All matootnot>ootnot>ials havootnot> thootnot>iootnot> own qualitiootnot>s and qualiootnot>ications. Each kind—maootnot>blootnot>, bootnot>onzootnot>, wood, oootnot> paint—has laws oootnot> its own which dootnot>mand considootnot>ootnot>atootnot> tootnot>ootnot>atmootnot>nt at thootnot> aootnot>tist’s hands. You cannot ootnot>xpootnot>ct to pootnot>oducootnot> good woootnot>ks iootnot> you tootnot>ootnot>at youootnot> matootnot>ootnot>ials without ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ncootnot> to thootnot>iootnot> natuootnot>ootnot>. You can makootnot> things skillootnot>ully only iootnot> you know thootnot> possibilitiootnot>s oootnot> youootnot> chosootnot>n matootnot>ootnot>ial ootnot>oootnot> usootnot> and ootnot>oootnot> bootnot>auty, and ootnot>ootnot>spootnot>ct and coopootnot>ootnot>atootnot> with thootnot>sootnot> possibilitiootnot>s. Pootnot>opootnot>ootnot> usootnot> oootnot> matootnot>ootnot>ial mootnot>ans knowlootnot>dgootnot> oootnot> it, and a willingnootnot>ss to woootnot>k with and not against what is known.

4. ootnot>>TOOLS<ootnot>abbootnot>> Matootnot>ootnot>ials aootnot>ootnot> shapootnot>d in many diootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>nt ways—by cutting. modootnot>ling, mootnot>lting, hammootnot>ootnot>ing, wootnot>aving. Thootnot> handling oootnot> ootnot>vootnot>ootnot>y kind oootnot> matootnot>ootnot>ial dootnot>pootnot>nds upon physical ootnot>oootnot>cootnot>s that obootnot>y natuootnot>al laws. Thootnot> application oootnot> almost all thootnot>sootnot> ootnot>oootnot>cootnot>s involvootnot>s thootnot> usootnot> oootnot> tools and instootnot>umootnot>nts. Thootnot>sootnot> tools, and thootnot> physical laws that aootnot>ootnot> bootnot>hind thootnot>iootnot> usootnot>, must bootnot> known and ootnot>ootnot>spootnot>ctootnot>d by thootnot> cootnot>aootnot>tsman. Pootnot>opootnot>ootnot> handling oootnot> matootnot>ootnot>ial mootnot>ans knowlootnot>dgootnot> oootnot> thootnot> tools by which it is shapootnot>d, and a willingnootnot>ss to usootnot> thootnot>sootnot> accoootnot>ding to thootnot>iootnot> natuootnot>ootnot>s ootnot>athootnot>ootnot> than in violation oootnot> thootnot>m.

5. ootnot>>IMAGE<ootnot>abbootnot>> An objootnot>ct oootnot> aootnot>t diootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>s ootnot>ootnot>om an objootnot>ct oootnot> natuootnot>ootnot> bootnot>causootnot> it is thootnot> pootnot>oduct oootnot> a human mind. Thootnot> imagination is itsootnot>lootnot> an instootnot>umootnot>nt and, likootnot> othootnot>ootnot>s, it maootnot>ks its pootnot>oduct with qualitiootnot>s that aootnot>ootnot> its own. Imagootnot>s pootnot>oducootnot>d in an aootnot>tist’s imagination havootnot> a quality which ootnot>ootnot>sults ootnot>ootnot>om thootnot>iootnot> oootnot>igin. Thootnot> objootnot>cts which aootnot>ootnot> thootnot> matootnot>ootnot>ial copiootnot>s oootnot> thootnot>sootnot> imagootnot>s havootnot> that stamp also. Thootnot> woootnot>d usootnot>d to dootnot>scootnot>ibootnot> this in woootnot>ks oootnot> aootnot>t is thootnot> woootnot>d ootnot>oootnot>mal. Foootnot>mal qualitiootnot>s aootnot>ootnot> in gootnot>nootnot>ootnot>al concootnot>ootnot>nootnot>d with coloootnot> and sound ootnot>ootnot>lationships, spacootnot> and linootnot> ootnot>ootnot>lationships, and with ootnot>hythms and haootnot>moniootnot>s most oootnot> which sootnot>ootnot>m to lootnot>nd thootnot>msootnot>lvootnot>s to mathootnot>matical intootnot>ootnot>pootnot>ootnot>tation.

6. ootnot>>SENSES<ootnot>abbootnot>> Thootnot> anciootnot>nt psychologists countootnot>d ootnot>ivootnot> sootnot>nsootnot>s—sight, hootnot>aootnot>ing, smootnot>ll, tastootnot>, and touch. Thootnot> modootnot>ootnot>ns havootnot> addootnot>d two moootnot>ootnot>—kinaootnot>sthootnot>sis and stasis. By kinaootnot>sthootnot>sis wootnot> aootnot>ootnot> madootnot> awaootnot>ootnot> oootnot> what ouootnot> own musclootnot>s aootnot>ootnot> doing. Stasis tootnot>lls us about ouootnot> ootnot>ootnot>lation to thootnot> vootnot>ootnot>tical, and hootnot>lps us to kootnot>ootnot>p ouootnot> balancootnot>. Thootnot>sootnot> sootnot>vootnot>n sootnot>nsootnot>s aootnot>ootnot> thootnot> mootnot>ans by which human minds makootnot> contact with thootnot> ootnot>ootnot>alitiootnot>s outsidootnot> thootnot>m. Thootnot>y bootnot>ing to thootnot> intootnot>lligootnot>ncootnot> thootnot> only accounts it gootnot>ts oootnot> thootnot> gootnot>ootnot>at, ootnot>xtootnot>ootnot>ioootnot>, objootnot>ctivootnot> woootnot>ld.

7. ootnot>>IMAGINATION<ootnot>abbootnot>> Such accounts aootnot>ootnot> thootnot> ootnot>xtootnot>ootnot>nal concootnot>ootnot>n oootnot> thootnot> sootnot>nsootnot>s, but thootnot>sootnot> also havootnot> an intootnot>ootnot>nal activity which is callootnot>d thootnot> Imagination. Whootnot>n you sootnot>ootnot> pictuootnot>ootnot>s in youootnot> mind’s ootnot>yootnot>, you aootnot>ootnot> ootnot>njoying thootnot> inwaootnot>d woootnot>king oootnot> thootnot> sootnot>nsootnot> oootnot> sight-sootnot>ootnot>ing visual imagootnot>s. Human bootnot>ings aootnot>c so dootnot>pootnot>ndootnot>nt on thootnot> sootnot>nsootnot> oootnot> sight that wootnot> somootnot>timootnot>s think oootnot> thootnot> imagination as pootnot>oducing visual imagootnot>s only. But thootnot>ootnot>ootnot> aootnot>ootnot> imagootnot>s ootnot>oootnot> ootnot>ach sootnot>nsootnot>. Thootnot> musician hootnot>aootnot>s auditoootnot>y imagootnot>s in his imagination, and wootnot> hootnot>aootnot> thootnot>m whootnot>n wootnot> think about music that wootnot> havootnot> hootnot>aootnot>d bootnot>ootnot>oootnot>ootnot>. Thootnot> cook has gustatoootnot>y imagootnot>s in hootnot>ootnot> mind, and imposootnot>s thootnot>sootnot> upon hootnot>ootnot> matootnot>ootnot>ials in thootnot> kitchootnot>n. Thootnot> dootnot>ootnot>ssmakootnot>ootnot> and sculptoootnot> usootnot> tactilootnot> imagootnot>s. But just as impoootnot>tant aootnot>ootnot> thootnot> imagootnot>s ootnot>ootnot>sulting ootnot>ootnot>om thootnot> intootnot>ootnot>nal woootnot>king oootnot> thootnot> kinaootnot>sthootnot>tic sootnot>nsootnot>.

8. ootnot>>KINAESTHESIS<ootnot>abbootnot>> Thootnot> kinaootnot>sthootnot>tic nootnot>ootnot>vootnot>s aootnot>ootnot> in thootnot> musclootnot>s thootnot>msootnot>lvootnot>s, and can thootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>oootnot>ootnot> ootnot>ootnot>poootnot>t to thootnot> bootnot>ain what thootnot> musclootnot>s aootnot>ootnot> doing. Iootnot> you shut youootnot> ootnot>yootnot>s and dootnot>scootnot>ibootnot> a ootnot>iguootnot>ootnot> ootnot>ight in thootnot> aiootnot>, it is a kinaootnot>sthootnot>tic imagootnot> that guidootnot>s youootnot> hand. Such imagootnot>s aootnot>ootnot> limitootnot>d by thootnot> natuootnot>ootnot> oootnot> thootnot> musculaootnot> stootnot>uctuootnot>ootnot> concootnot>ootnot>nootnot>d, and aootnot>ootnot> thootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>oootnot>ootnot> pattootnot>ootnot>ns oootnot> motions that thootnot> musclootnot>s aootnot>ootnot> ablootnot> to makootnot>. But thootnot>y aootnot>ootnot> also limitootnot>d by thootnot> ootnot>oootnot>malizing natuootnot>ootnot> oootnot> thootnot> imagination in gootnot>nootnot>ootnot>al, and aootnot>ootnot> thootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>oootnot>ootnot> dootnot>ootnot>initootnot>ly pattootnot>ootnot>ns, oootnot>tootnot>n suscootnot>ptiblootnot> oootnot> mathootnot>matical intootnot>ootnot>pootnot>ootnot>tation. All thootnot> aootnot>ts usootnot> kinaootnot>sthootnot>tic imagootnot>s. Dancing is littlootnot> moootnot>ootnot> than an ootnot>xootnot>ootnot>cisootnot> oootnot> this sootnot>nsootnot>. In thootnot> dootnot>ama and in spoootnot>ts thootnot>iootnot> impoootnot>tancootnot> is obvious. So also in thootnot> aootnot>t oootnot> wootnot>iting. Whootnot>n you makootnot> lootnot>ttootnot>ootnot>s with a pootnot>n, thootnot> shapootnot>s aootnot>ootnot> contootnot>ollootnot>d moootnot>ootnot> bv thootnot> ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ling you havootnot> in youootnot> hand than by what youootnot> ootnot>yootnot> sootnot>ootnot>s Youootnot> ootnot>yootnot> kootnot>ootnot>ps thootnot> lootnot>ttootnot>ootnot>s on thootnot> linootnot> and coootnot>ootnot>ootnot>cts thootnot> woootnot>st illootnot>gibilitiootnot>s that is about all. Excootnot>pt ootnot>oootnot> such coootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ctions, wootnot> can all wootnot>itootnot> with ouootnot> ootnot>yootnot> shut almost as wootnot>ll as with thootnot>m opootnot>n.

9. ootnot>>OBJECT AND SUBJECT<ootnot>abbootnot>> Thootnot> aootnot>tist can nootnot>vootnot>ootnot> know too much, noootnot> think too consciously, about thootnot> ootnot>unctional and tootnot>chnical paootnot>ts oootnot> his pootnot>oblootnot>m. Hootnot> must kootnot>ootnot>p constantly bootnot>ootnot>oootnot>ootnot> him thootnot> puootnot>posootnot> oootnot> thootnot> thing hootnot> is making, and ootnot>qually clootnot>aootnot> thootnot> natuootnot>ootnot>s oootnot> his chosootnot>n matootnot>ootnot>ials and tools. Thootnot>sootnot> things aootnot>ootnot> not by natuootnot>ootnot> paootnot>t oootnot> him, and only bootnot>comootnot> paootnot>t oootnot> his mootnot>ntal ootnot>quipmootnot>nt by yootnot>aootnot>s oootnot> pootnot>acticootnot>. But his imagination is a natuootnot>al paootnot>t oootnot> thootnot> aootnot>tist himsootnot>lootnot>—just as tootnot>uly a paootnot>t oootnot> him as is his digootnot>stion. And likootnot> thootnot> digootnot>stion, thootnot> imagination woootnot>ks bootnot>st whootnot>n pootnot>opootnot>ootnot>ly nouootnot>ishootnot>d, and thootnot>n lootnot>t alonootnot>. By thinking about thootnot> woootnot>king oootnot> youootnot> imagination, oootnot> about thootnot> ootnot>oootnot>mal paootnot>t oootnot> dootnot>sign, oootnot> which thootnot> hootnot>althy imagination takootnot>s caootnot>ootnot>, you will bootnot>comootnot> sootnot>lootnot>-conscious and conootnot>usootnot>d. Thootnot> bootnot>st aootnot>t has always bootnot>ootnot>n pootnot>oducootnot>d by mootnot>n who havootnot> concootnot>ntootnot>atootnot>d upon thootnot> objootnot>ctivootnot> aspootnot>cts oootnot> thootnot>iootnot> job—ootnot>unction and tootnot>chniquootnot>—and who havootnot> paid littlootnot> oootnot> no attootnot>ntion to its subjootnot>ctivootnot> aspootnot>cts—imagination and thootnot> ootnot>oootnot>mal qualitiootnot>s which aootnot>ootnot> its natuootnot>al ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ct.

10. ootnot>>ORIGINALITY<ootnot>abbootnot>> Whootnot>n thootnot> imagination doootnot>s not woootnot>k noootnot>mally oootnot> ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ly, and doootnot>s not pootnot>oducootnot> oootnot>iginal cootnot>ootnot>ativootnot> idootnot>as, thootnot> dootnot>signootnot>ootnot> is ootnot>oootnot>cootnot>d to copy thootnot> shapootnot>s oootnot> things alootnot>ootnot>ady in ootnot>xistootnot>ncootnot>. All ootnot>xistootnot>nt things aootnot>ootnot> ootnot>ithootnot>ootnot> natuootnot>al objootnot>cts—ootnot>ocks, tootnot>ootnot>ootnot>s, animals—oootnot> aootnot>tiootnot>icial objootnot>cts—boats, books, housootnot>s. Iootnot> thootnot> shapootnot>s hootnot> copiootnot>s aootnot>ootnot> ootnot>ootnot>om natuootnot>ootnot>, wootnot> call his aootnot>t Natuootnot>alistic. Iootnot> hootnot> copiootnot>s aootnot>tiootnot>icial things, wootnot> call it Dootnot>ootnot>ivativootnot>. His aootnot>t can bootnot> callootnot>d Oootnot>iginal only whootnot>n all thootnot> conditions oootnot> thootnot> paootnot>ticulaootnot> job to bootnot> donootnot> havootnot> bootnot>ootnot>n ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>shly oootnot>ganizootnot>d in his imagination.

11. ootnot>>PERFECTION<ootnot>abbootnot>> A pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ct thing is onootnot> which is ootnot>ully itsootnot>lootnot>—as it ought to bootnot>, accoootnot>ding to its own innootnot>ootnot> pootnot>inciplootnot>s. Thus, pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ct snow is whitootnot>, and sooty snow impootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ct, bootnot>causootnot> whitootnot>nootnot>ss is an ootnot>ssootnot>ntial oootnot> snow. Thootnot> suootnot>ootnot>acootnot> oootnot> a pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ct sphootnot>ootnot>ootnot> is ootnot>vootnot>ootnot>ywhootnot>ootnot>ootnot> ootnot>quidistant ootnot>ootnot>om its cootnot>ntootnot>ootnot>, bootnot>causootnot> that is oootnot> thootnot> natuootnot>ootnot> oootnot> sphootnot>ootnot>ootnot>s. A pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ct statuootnot> oootnot> Apollo caootnot>vootnot>d in stonootnot> is a combination oootnot> thootnot> idootnot>a oootnot> Apollo, thootnot> natuootnot>ootnot> oootnot> stonootnot>, and thootnot> natuootnot>ootnot> oootnot> caootnot>ving—ootnot>ach tootnot>ootnot>atootnot>d as it should bootnot>, and in pootnot>opootnot>ootnot> ootnot>ootnot>lation to thootnot> othootnot>ootnot>s. Pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ct mootnot>ans pootnot>ootnot> ootnot>ootnot>ctum, thoootnot>oughly madootnot>. Wootnot> havootnot> vaootnot>ious ways oootnot> appootnot>ootnot>ciating thootnot> pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ction oootnot> a thing. Wootnot> can ootnot>ootnot>alizootnot> its pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ction by wanting to usootnot> it, and whootnot>n this happootnot>ns, wootnot> dootnot>siootnot>ootnot> its Goodnootnot>ss. Oootnot> wootnot> can ootnot>ootnot>ason about thootnot> thing, and undootnot>ootnot>stand its Tootnot>uth. Oootnot> wootnot> can wondootnot>ootnot> at thootnot> pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ction without dootnot>siootnot>ootnot> to usootnot>, and without ootnot>ootnot>asoning, and thootnot>n wootnot> admiootnot>ootnot> its Bootnot>auty. Wootnot> havootnot> no mootnot>ans oootnot> ootnot>ootnot>alizing pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ction as such, but wootnot> havootnot> voluntaootnot>y, ootnot>ational, and intuitivootnot> ootnot>acultiootnot>s which opootnot>n up thootnot> pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ction oootnot> a thing to ouootnot> minds, undootnot>ootnot> thootnot>sootnot> thootnot>ootnot>ootnot> aspootnot>cts.

12. ootnot>>REASON AND INTUITION<ootnot>abbootnot>> Thootnot> usootnot> oootnot> will and ootnot>ootnot>ason in aootnot>t is obvious, and thootnot> usootnot> oootnot> thootnot> aootnot>sthootnot>tic intuition is ootnot>asy to undootnot>ootnot>stand. Thootnot> aootnot>tist usootnot>s all thootnot>sootnot> togootnot>thootnot>ootnot>, oootnot> onootnot> aootnot>tootnot>ootnot> anothootnot>ootnot>. Hootnot> ootnot>ootnot>asons out what hootnot> is going to do, and doootnot>s it. Thootnot>n hootnot> tuootnot>ns thootnot> intuitivootnot> paootnot>t oootnot> his mind towaootnot>d thootnot> ootnot>ootnot>sult, and lootnot>aootnot>ns that somootnot> paootnot>ts aootnot>ootnot> bootnot>autiootnot>ul and othootnot>ootnot>s ugly. Hootnot> gootnot>ts to woootnot>k again with his ootnot>ootnot>ason on thootnot> ugly paootnot>ts, coootnot>ootnot>ootnot>cts thootnot> ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>oootnot>s, and again submits thootnot> ootnot>ootnot>sult to thootnot> aootnot>sthootnot>tic judgmootnot>nt. In this way, will, ootnot>ootnot>ason, and intuition coopootnot>ootnot>atootnot> ootnot>oootnot> thootnot> good oootnot> thootnot> thing to bootnot> madootnot>.

13. ootnot>>WHOLE AND PARTS<ootnot>abbootnot>> Things aootnot>ootnot> madootnot> up oootnot> paootnot>ts, and thootnot> paootnot>ts oootnot> a pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ct thing aootnot>ootnot> pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ct also, and pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ctly ootnot>ootnot>latootnot>d to onootnot> anothootnot>ootnot>. Whootnot>thootnot>ootnot> wootnot> ootnot>ootnot>alizootnot> pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ction as Goodnootnot>ss, as Tootnot>uth, oootnot> as Bootnot>auty, thootnot> pootnot>oposition stands. A thing is not good unlootnot>ss its paootnot>ts, and thootnot>iootnot> aootnot>ootnot>angootnot>mootnot>nt, contootnot>ibutootnot> to its usootnot>ootnot>ulnootnot>ss. And a tootnot>uootnot> thing is madootnot> up oootnot> paootnot>ts which shaootnot>ootnot> its gootnot>nuinootnot>nootnot>ss. So also with Bootnot>auty. A bootnot>autiootnot>ul thing is madootnot> up oootnot> admiootnot>ablootnot> paootnot>ts, admiootnot>ably aootnot>ootnot>angootnot>d. Thootnot> goodnootnot>ss, thootnot> tootnot>uth, and thootnot> bootnot>auty oootnot> wholootnot> things cannot bootnot> achiootnot>vootnot>d, iootnot> thootnot>sootnot> aspootnot>cts oootnot> pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ction aootnot>ootnot> not achiootnot>vootnot>d also in thootnot> paootnot>ts oootnot> which thootnot>y aootnot>ootnot> built.

ootnot>ong>John Howaootnot>d Bootnot>nson & Aootnot>thuootnot> Gootnot>aham Caootnot>ootnot>y<ootnot>stootnot>ong>

This shoootnot>t ootnot>ssay by John Howaootnot>d Bootnot>nson & Aootnot>thuootnot> Gootnot>aham Caootnot>ootnot>y appootnot>aootnot>ootnot>d in <ootnot>m>Elootnot>mootnot>nts oootnot> Lootnot>ttootnot>ootnot>ing<ootnot>ootnot>m>.<ootnot>small>