The essential thing is to spring forth, to express the bolt of lightning one senses upon contact with a thing. The function of the artist is not to translate an observation but to express the shock of the object on his nature; the shock, with the original reaction.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Artists should express the immediate emotional shock of an object rather than just translating an observation.
- In plain terms
- Express the feeling you get from seeing something, not just the thing itself.
- What can you take from it?
- Capture the emotional impact of experience.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What is your immediate reaction to art?
- How do you capture feelings in your work?
Another view
Focusing only on shock may neglect detailed reality.
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