A bit of advice, don't copy nature too closely. Art is an abstraction; as you dream amid nature, extrapolate art from it, and concentrate on what you will create as a result.
Paul GauguinRead
A critic in my house sees some paintings. Greatly perturbed, he asks for my drawings. My drawings? Never! They are my letters, my secrets.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Gauguin expresses the personal nature of his drawings, viewing them as intimate secrets rather than mere artworks.
In this quote, Paul Gauguin illustrates the deep emotional connection he has with his drawings, which he considers to be personal letters or secrets rather than public art. This highlights the distinction between the artist's private expression and public perception, emphasizing that true art often carries personal significance that is not meant for the eyes of critics or the outside world.
Themes
ArtSecretsPersonalExpressionCriticism
In practice
Example use cases
An artist sharing his perspective on the personal nature of their work during an art exhibit.
More from Paul Gauguin
All quotes βA hint - don't paint too much direct from nature. Art is an abstraction! study nature then brood on it and treasure the creation which will result, which is the only way to ascend towards God - to create like our Divine Master.
Paul GauguinRead
Life has no meaning unless one lives it with a will, at least to the limit of one's will. Virtue, good, evil are nothing but words, unless one takes them apart in order to build something with them; they do not win their true meaning until one knows how to apply them.
Paul GauguinRead
The flat sound of my wooden clogs on the cobblestones, deep, hollow and powerful, is the note I seek in my painting.
Paul GauguinRead
Art is either plagiarism or revolution.
Paul GauguinRead
Art requires philosophy, just as philosophy requires art. Otherwise, what would become of beauty?
Paul GauguinRead
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