Meaning & Analysis
The outcome, appearance, or manner of something is determined solely by the will or preference of the painter (or creator).
Insights
Arbitrariness of Creation
The proverb symbolizes the freedom, subjectivity, or even caprice of the creator; outcomes are shaped not by external standards but by the personal taste or whims of the one in control.
Relativism of Beauty and Value
It suggests that beauty, value, or correctness is in the eye of the creator or beholder, underscoring the idea that judgments—especially in art or taste—are inherently subjective and individualized.
Unaccountable Authority
More broadly, the proverb points to situations where authority or decision rests with a single party whose choices need not be justified to others, emphasizing the unpredictability or idiosyncrasy of such power.
Creative Autonomy
From the Renaissance onward, artists and writers have asserted autonomy in their creative process, often resisting prescriptive rules. This proverb encapsulates the notion that artistic production answers only to the creator’s vision.
Skepticism of Standards
The saying can be used skeptically or humorously when outcomes seem arbitrary or defy explanation, paralleling similar proverbs such as 'it’s a matter of taste' or 'to each their own.'
Philosophical Resonance
Philosophically, the proverb alludes to debates about the nature of value, taste, and interpretation, echoing relativist or subjectivist traditions in aesthetics and ethics.
Application Beyond Art
Though originating in reference to painting, the proverb is applied broadly to any domain where outcomes are shaped by the discretionary preferences of an authority, from law and judgment to fashion and etiquette.
Rhetorical Devices
Metonymy
The 'painter' stands in for any creator or authority, extending the scope of the proverb beyond literal art.
Ellipsis
The abbreviated phrasing omits specific details about what pleases the painter, increasing its adaptability to diverse contexts.
Irony
There is an implicit irony in surrendering explanation to the whims of the painter, often used when no satisfactory or rational account can be given.
Transcription
Quotations
But whatsoever the colour be, the picture is as it pleaseth the Paynter.
As please the paynter.
What pleases the Painter, when any Representation in the Productions of his or any Art is unaccountable, and so is to be resolv'd purely into the good Pleasure of the Artist.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.