Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter. The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion. It is not he who is revealed by the painter; it is rather the painter who, on the coloured canvas, reveals himself.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A portrait painted with feeling reflects the artist’s inner self more than the sitter’s.
- In plain terms
- Art reveals the creator, not just the subject.
- What can you take from it?
- Look for the artist’s perspective in expressive works.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does an artist’s mood shape a work?
- Can a portrait be both personal and accurate?
Another view
Some portraits aim to faithfully capture the sitter’s likeness.
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