Ars gratia artis
51.2 H x 35 W x 1 in (130 x 89 cm)

Etching ink on canvas.
Original signed small limited edition, off-print on canvas by the artist.
Printmaking, relief process. Framed, art gallery wrapped.

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Ars gratia artis, classical Latin for « Art for reward’s sake » or « Art for art’s sake » is the usual English rendering of a French slogan « l’art pour l’art » art has no other goal than itself, credited to Théophile Gautier (1811–1872). Such works are sometimes described to be complete in itself, claiming that artistic pursuits were their own justification and that art did not need moral justification. Moreover, to designate art that is independent of political and social requirements, and indeed, is allowed to be morally neutral, mainstream, subversive… « Ars gratia artis » is incidentally used as a baseline for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer logo, and appears in the circle around the roaring head of Leo the Lion.