Nur wer die Leier schon hob auch unter Schatten, darf das unendliche… — Rainer Maria Rilke | Printable Wall Art

“Nur wer die Leier schon hob auch unter Schatten, darf das unendliche Lob ahnend erstatten.”
“Only one who has already raised the lyre even among the shadows may, sensing it, render the infinite praise.”

Words by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) — Austrian-German poet.

About this quote

Rilke suggests that true artistic expression requires an understanding of life's darker sides. The lyre symbolises poetry and song, while the shadows represent grief, loss, and mortality. In his view, a creator can only offer genuine, profound praise of the world once they have confronted its sorrows. Beauty and tragedy are inseparable, and art must acknowledge both to achieve real depth.

This line comes from Rilke's Sonnets to Orpheus, written in February 1922 at the Château de Muzot in Switzerland. The collection reflects on grief, transience, and the power of song, inspired by the myth of Orpheus and the death of a young dancer.

People often hang this line in a study or creative studio to inspire depth and emotional honesty in work.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 19 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Script Whisper · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Night Script · Tracked Caps Unsigned

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.