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 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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of interpreting nature creatively rather than simply copying it.
Paul Gauguin expresses the idea that true art transcends mere imitation of nature. Instead, artists should study the beauty of the natural world and then reflect upon it to create something original that embodies deeper meaning, much like a divine creation. This process of abstraction leads to a higher understanding and connection with the divine.
Themes
ArtNatureAbstractionCreativityDivinity
In practice
Example use cases
During an art workshop, one might say this quote to inspire participants to explore their own interpretations of nature.
More from Paul Gauguin
All quotes →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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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.
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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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