"I am happy for people to talk about my pictures, but I wish devoutly that I was not expected to talk about them myself"

This quote by Howard Hodgkin speaks with the difficulty of having to explain one's own artwork. As an artist, Hodgkin is most likely utilized to having his work gone over and critiqued by others, however he wishes he was not expected to discuss his own work. This could be since he feels that his artwork speaks for itself, or due to the fact that he is unpleasant discussing his own work. It could likewise be because he feels that his art work is too individual to discuss, or since he is not positive in his capability to articulate his thoughts and feelings. Whatever the factor, Hodgkin's quote speaks to the problem of needing to explain one's own art work, and the desire to have others interpret it without the artist's input.