"I decided on the spot that I would be an artist, and I assure you, it was no ordinary artist I had in mind"

Henry Ossawa Tanner's quote, "I selected the spot that I would be an artist, and I guarantee you, it was no common artist I had in mind," reflects the deep passion and ambition that he had towards his craft. It represents his steady commitment towards art and exposes that he did not want to be an ordinary artist, but rather a distinguished one. The quote likewise suggests that Tanner had a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve as an artist, and he was identified to pursue it. His dedication to his art assisted him to become one of the most prominent African-American artists of his time. Through his work, Tanner challenged the standard ideas of art and played a significant role in forming the understanding of art in his era.