I hope that my painting has the impact of giving someone, as it did me, the feeling of his own totality, of his own separateness, of his own individuality.
Barnett NewmanRead
Sculpture is what you bump into when you back up to see a painting.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Sculpture provides a tangible, three-dimensional experience that complements and contrasts with two-dimensional artworks like paintings.
This quote emphasizes the relationship between different forms of art, suggesting that sculpture interacts with and enhances our understanding of painting. By stepping back to appreciate a painting, one may inadvertently encounter sculpture, highlighting the importance of spatial awareness and the coexistence of various artistic expressions in our visual culture.
Themes
SculpturePaintingArtVisual ArtCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote would be perfect for an art class discussion about the relationship between different art forms.
More from Barnett Newman
All quotes βWhat is the explanation of the seemingly insane drive of man to be painter and poet if it is not an act of defiance against mans fall and an assertion that he return to the Garden of Eden? For the artists are the first men.
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Any art worthy of its name should address 'life', 'man', 'nature', 'death' and 'tragedy'.
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