Sickness, insanity and death were the angels that surrounded my cradle and they have followed me throughout my life.
Edvard MunchRead
Painting picture by picture, I followed the impressions my eye took in at heightened moments. I painted only memories, adding nothing, no details that I did not see. Hence the simplicity of the paintings, their emptiness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes painting as a process that captures genuine memories and perceptions without unnecessary embellishments.
Edvard Munch reflects on his artistic philosophy, where each painting is a direct representation of his memories and impressions, void of added details or complexities. This approach highlights the purity and simplicity of his work, suggesting that true art stems from authentic experiences rather than overthinking or overcomplicating the subject.
Themes
PaintingMemoriesSimplicityArtExpression
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in an art class to inspire students to focus on their own experiences when creating art.
More from Edvard Munch
All quotes →I don’t believe in an art that is not born out of man’s need to open his heart.
Edvard MunchRead
Through my art I have tried to explain my life and its meaning. I have also intended to help others to clarify their lives.
Edvard MunchRead
My fear of life is necessary to me, as is my illness. Without anxiety and illness, I am a ship without a rudder. My art is grounded in reflections over being different from others. My sufferings are part of my self and my art. They are indistinguishable from me, and their destruction would destroy my art. I want to keep those sufferings
Edvard MunchRead
At different moments you see with different eyes. You see differently in the morning than you do in the evening. In addition, how you see is also dependent on your emotional state. Because of this, a motif can be seen in many different ways, and this is what makes art interesting.
Edvard MunchRead
From my rotting body, flowers shall grow and I am in them and that is eternity.
Edvard MunchRead
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