"Another unsettling element in modern art is that common symptom of immaturity, the dread of doing what has been done before"

Edith Wharton's quote touches on the tension in between development and custom in modern-day art. She indicates a pervasive anxiety in the art world: the fear of repeating what has actually already been done. This concern is labeled as a "sign of immaturity", recommending that maturity in art, as in life, needs a level of comfort with the past and a willingness to engage with it, not simply respond versus it.

Wharton's usage of the word "upsetting" indicates a pain or disturbance within the art neighborhood and amongst artists themselves. The drive to produce something entirely new can lead to a straight-out rejection of what has actually preceded, which, according to Wharton, may reflect a lack of maturity. Artistic maturity might include understanding, acknowledging, and even embracing what has come before, utilizing it as a structure or stepping stone instead of seeing it as a restriction.

The "fear" she describes might hinder an artist's ability to draw on valuable lessons, techniques, and themes from history, which can be a rich source of inspiration and understanding. By fearing repetition, artists may limit their capacity for real innovation. Real imagination can typically occur from reinterpreting, remixing, or reimagining existing concepts rather of discarding them completely.

Additionally, this quote might be analyzed as a critique of a wider cultural tendency to prioritize novelty over quality or meaning. In the rush to produce something unprecedented, the art might end up being shallow or disconnected from the human experience it intends to show or light up. Wharton may be prompting artists to discover a balance-- honor the past while still pressing boundaries. By engaging attentively with what has been done in the past, artists can go beyond simple replica to contribute something of enduring value and importance. Ultimately, maturity may be found not in preventing repeating at all costs, but in integrating and changing past achievements into brand-new expressions that resonate.