"Every mind which has given itself to self-expression in art is aware of a directing agency outside its conscious control which it has agreed to label 'inspiration'"

Norman Lindsay's quote reflects on the magical and often elusive nature of imagination and creative motivation. At its core, the statement acknowledges the paradox artists frequently experience: a profound sense of agency in producing art, yet simultaneously feeling as though something beyond their conscious mind is assisting their work. Lindsay suggests that this phenomenon, typically referred to as "motivation", functions as a directing agency outside the artist's mindful control. By using the term "directing firm", Lindsay indicates an external, maybe ethereal force that affects and guides the imaginative process. This force is not something an artist can necessarily summon at will but is rather a companion that artists "accept identify" as motivation, suggesting a collective understanding or acceptance amongst creative individuals of its mysterious impact.

Lindsay's option of words such as "offered itself to self-expression" speaks to the voluntary and often consuming nature of artistic endeavor, where the mind is committed fully to the pursuit of art. It suggests a surrender to the creative procedure, where the artist becomes a conduit for this inspiration. The phrase "familiar with a directing company" indicates a recommendation of a presence that feels both intimate and alien. This duality raises questions about the origins of creativity: Is it an item of the subconscious? A divine intervention? A natural human quality?

Moreover, the concept that artists "consent to label" this force as motivation speaks to the insufficiency of language to completely capture such an abstract experience. It is a term settled upon by consensus, suggesting a shared human experience and a nod to the inexpressible nature of creativity. In essence, Lindsay's declaration underscores the deeply mystical aspect of the artistic journey, a dance between the known and the unknown, where control is both held and given up in the pursuit of creating art.