The
explanation of the propensity of the English people
to portrait painting is to be found in their relish
for a Fact. Let a man do the grandest things, fight
the greatest battles, or be distinguished by the
most brilliant personal heroism, yet the English
people would prefer his portrait to a painting of
the great deed. The likeness they can judge of; his
existence is a Fact. But the truth of the picture of
his deeds they cannot judge of, for they have no
imagination.
-- Benjamin Haydon
1786-1846, British
Artist
I had
rather see the portrait of a dog that I know, than
all the allegorical paintings they can show me in
the world.
-- Samuel Johnson
1709-1784, British
Author
Some
will not recognize the truthfulness of my mirror.
Let them remember that I am not here to reflect the
surface... but must penetrate inside. My mirror
probes down to the heart. I write words on the
forehead and around the corners of the mouth. My
human faces are truer than the real ones.
-- Paul Klee
1879-1940, Swiss
Artist
When
you start with a portrait and search for a pure
form, a clear volume, through successive
eliminations, you arrive inevitably at the egg.
Likewise, starting with the egg and following the
same process in reverse, one finishes with the
portrait.
-- Pablo Picasso
1881-1973, Spanish
Artist
