An art which isn't based on feeling isn't an art at all... feeling is the principle, the beginning and the end; craft, objective, technique - all these are in the middle.
The painter must enclose himself within his work; he must respond not with words, but with paintings.
Interpretation
What this quote means
An artist should immerse themselves in their art, expressing feelings through their work rather than through language.
In this quote, Paul Cezanne emphasizes the idea that a painter's true expression lies in their artwork. It suggests that the artist should fully engage with their creative process, allowing their emotions and thoughts to be conveyed through visual representation instead of relying on verbal communication. This encapsulates the belief that art can speak volumes where words may fall short, highlighting the intrinsic connection between the artist and their creation.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
An art class where students learn to express their feelings through painting rather than discussing them.
More from Paul Cezanne
All quotes →Taste is the best judge. It is rare. Art only addresses itself to an excessively small number of individuals.
Monet is only an eye, but my God, what an eye!
If I were called upon to define briefly the word Art, I should call it the reproduction of what the senses preceive in nature, seen through the veil of the soul.
The landscape thinks itself in me and I am its consciousness.
I lack the magnificent richness of color that animates nature.
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Yet, it is true, poetry is delicious; the best prose is that which is most full of poetry.