Full Idea
If imitation is the sole purpose of the graphic arts, it is surprising that the works of such arts are ever looked upon as more than curiosities, or ingenious toys, and are ever taken seriously by grown-up people.
Gist of Idea
If graphic arts only aim at imitation, their works are only trivial ingenious toys
Source
Roger Fry (An Essay in Aesthetics [1909], p.23)
Book Reference
Fry,Roger: 'Vision and Design' [Penguin 1937], p.23
A Reaction
But then you might say that same about fine wines. A mere nice taste is hardly worthy of grown ups, and yet lots of grown ups feeling quite passionately about it. What about Fabergé eggs?