One possible interpretation: Things that are valuable (be it artistic creations or useful tools) will overshadow their inventors. If you want your work to be recognized, then you should care more about your work than about being recognized for it.
Almost all the artistic works that I can recognise on sight I have an idea who the artist was/is. Often you can see a work for the first time and have a guess at the artist. I don't think it works really - maybe for certain areas and/or with historic pieces (like who carved the Lewis Chessmen?)?