"When a finished work of 20th century sculpture is placed in an 18th century garden, it is absorbed by the ideal representation of the past, thus reinforcing political and social values that are no longer with us"

This quote by Robert Smithson speaks to the power of art to form our understanding of the past. By positioning a 20th century sculpture in an 18th century garden, the sculpture is taken in by the ideal representation of the past, which strengthens the political and social worths of that period. This suggests that art can be utilized to maintain and perpetuate the worths of a specific time period, even if those worths are no longer appropriate in the present. Smithson's quote likewise suggests that art can be used to bridge the gap in between the past and the present, enabling us to get a much better understanding of our history and the values that shaped it. Eventually, Smithson's quote highlights the significance of art in preserving and comprehending our past.