The camera is for us a tool, not a pretty mechanical toy ... people think far too much about techniques and not enough about seeing.
Henri Cartier-BressonRead
In whatever one does there must be a relationship between the eye and the heart.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the connection between perception and emotion in the creative process.
Henri Cartier-Bressonβs quote suggests that artistry and creativity stem from a deep interplay between visual observation and emotional experience. It implies that for true artistry to emerge, one must not only see with their eyes but also feel with their heart, establishing a relationship that allows for a more profound expression of ideas and feelings through art.
Themes
ArtEmotionCreativityObservationExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on the importance of emotion in photography, one could use this quote to highlight the significance of feeling.
More from Henri Cartier-Bresson
All quotes βThe most difficult thing for me is a portrait. You have to try and put your camera between the skin of a person and his shirt.
Henri Cartier-BressonRead
Photography has not changed since its origin except in its technical aspects, which for me are not important.
Henri Cartier-BressonRead
Photographier: c'est mettre sur la meme ligne de mire la tete, l'oeil et le coeur.
Henri Cartier-BressonRead
Above all, I craved to seize the whole essence, in the confines of one single photograph, of some situation that was in the process of unrolling itself before my eyes.
Henri Cartier-BressonRead
Pictures, regardless of how they are created and recreated, are intended to be looked at. This brings to the forefront not the technology of imaging, which of course is important, but rather what we might call the eyenology (seeing).
Henri Cartier-BressonRead
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