Photography is a contest between a photographer and the presumptions of approximate and habitual seeing. The contest can be held anywhere.
John SzarkowskiRead
All works, no matter what or by whom painted, are nothing but bagatelles and childish trifles... unless they are made and painted from life, and there can be nothing... better than to follow nature.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Art is only of value when it is created from real-life experiences and nature.
In this quote, Caravaggio emphasizes the importance of grounding artistic work in real-life experiences and nature. He suggests that all artistic creations are trivial unless they are inspired by the beauty and truth found in the natural world, highlighting the significance of authenticity in art.
Themes
ArtNatureLifeCreativityAuthenticity
In practice
Example use cases
During an art workshop, to remind participants of the importance of realism, I might say this quote.
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