It seems to me madness to wake up in the morning and do something other than paint, considering that one may not wake up the following morning.
Frank AuerbachRead
To put down an ideogram of a table so that people will recognize it as a table is not the work of a painter, but to sense it for a moment as a magic carpet with a leg hanging down at each corner is the beginning of a painter's imagination.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that true creativity goes beyond mere representation; it involves an imaginative perception of the subject.
Frank Auerbach's quote illustrates the difference between straightforward depiction and imaginative interpretation in art. While simply rendering an object, such as a table, is a task for an illustrator, a true painter taps into their creativity to perceive and convey the essence and deeper meaning of the object, evoking a sense of wonder and possibility, much like a 'magic carpet.' This perspective invites viewers to explore and engage with art beyond its surface.
Themes
ArtImaginationCreativityPerceptionExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In an art class, to encourage students to think creatively about their subjects.
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