"An amateur is someone who supports himself with outside jobs which enable him to paint. A professional is someone whose wife works to enable him to paint"

In this quote, artist Ben Shahn is highlighting the distinction between an amateur and an expert in the art world. He defines an amateur as someone who counts on outdoors tasks to support themselves while pursuing their passion for painting. This recommends that painting is not their main income source and they might not have as much time or resources to dedicate to it. On the other hand, a professional is somebody whose partner or partner works to support them, enabling them to focus exclusively on their art. This suggests that a professional artist has the ability to completely immerse themselves in their craft and possibly produce higher quality work. Shahn's words shed light on the financial truths and sacrifices that artists frequently deal with in pursuit of their enthusiasm.