The world naÏve first appeared in 18th century France meaning guiltless, innocent, openhearted, sincere, natural, simple, limited. NaÏve painters were considered those with clumsy technique,
a simple thematic approach and childlike vision in comparison with academic standards. However, writers and thinkers were of a different opinion. Stendal noted in his diary that for him
naivety was, in fact, the sublimity of daily life. Kant stated that superficiality had become a secure nature of man, and that naivety, as an original human characteristic, was very rare.