Everything is a subject. Every subject has a rhythm. To feel it is the raison detre. The photograph is a fixed moment of such a raison detre, which lives on in itself.
Andre KerteszRead
The moment always dictates in my work. What I feel, I do. This is the most important thing for me. Everybody can look, but they don't necessarily see. I never calculate or consider; I see a situation and I know that it's right, even if I have to go back to get the proper lighting.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of intuition and immediate perception in the creative process.
In this quote, Andre Kertesz reflects on the spontaneity and instinctual nature of his artistic work. He suggests that true artistic expression is not about careful planning or calculation but rather about being attuned to the moment and trusting one's own feelings and perceptions. The ability to 'see' beyond the obvious distinguishes true artists, as they can capture deeper truths about their subjects and surroundings.
Themes
ArtIntuitionPerceptionCreativitySpontaneity
In practice
Example use cases
In an art class, when discussing artistic processes and the role of emotion in creation.
More from Andre Kertesz
All quotes →If you want to write you should learn the alphabet. You write and write and in the end you hava a beautiful, perfect alphabet. But it isn’t the alphabed that is important. The important thing is what you are writing, what you are expressing. The same thing goes for photography. Photographs can be technically perfect and even beautiful, but they have no expression.
Andre KerteszRead
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