Content Warning: This section discusses emotional abuse.

In Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, Brandon Sanderson questions what art is and why it is significant, ultimately concluding that art is an essential feature of humanity and cannot exist without human intent and purpose. Each protagonist embodies a different approach to art, providing a nuanced exploration of how art reflects humanity. At first glance, Yumi’s art of rock stacking appears to be almost mechanical its precision; however, it is described as “a feat of organic improvisation” (23), illustrating that her creation process blends discipline and spontaneous expression. Painter practices the more familiar art of painting; in contrast to Yumi, he is initially worn down by the routine of his work and lacks inspiration. He approaches his painting entirely methodically. By contrasting these approaches, Sanderson builds his argument about art: While technique and precision matter, true art is infused with human intent and passion.

Hoid’s narrative voice deepens this argument by establishing that art’s value is defined by interpretation and subjective experience. He states that “there’s nothing intrinsically valuable about any kind of art… people decide what is beautiful” (22).