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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 Gauguin
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Art should draw inspiration from nature but not imitate it directly. Instead, it should be an abstraction that comes from personal creativity.

In this quote, Paul Gauguin emphasizes that while nature is a source of inspiration for artists, true art should not attempt to replicate nature in a literal sense. Instead, artists should engage with the natural world to cultivate their own unique interpretations and ideas, allowing their creativity to flow as they create something original that reflects their individual vision.

Themes

ArtNatureInspirationCreativityAbstraction

In practice

Example use cases

In an art class discussing the influence of nature on creativity.

More from Paul Gauguin

A critic in my house sees some paintings. Greatly perturbed, he asks for my drawings. My drawings? Never! They are my letters, my secrets.
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A 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.
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The flat sound of my wooden clogs on the cobblestones, deep, hollow and powerful, is the note I seek in my painting.
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Art is either plagiarism or revolution.
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Art requires philosophy, just as philosophy requires art. Otherwise, what would become of beauty?
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