Pondering the nature of artistic genius, a social scientist finds that creativity has a bottom line

I think there must have been a lot of undated paintings in Cezanne's studio that just got dated the year of his death when his estate was sold. His most admired paintings are not from the last year of his life.

FTA:

It's not curators, it's not critics, it's not the public, it's not collectors who find great artists—it's other artists.

Magnificent insight. Love it.

Just like Eric Raymond said that you become a hacker when someone else who is considered a true hacker calls you one. I think with most arts the entry into "greatness" is this way.

Awesome article.