"I prefer to see with closed eyes"

Josef Albers, a renowned artist and educator known for his work on color theory and perception, encourages a profound consideration of how we engage with the world around us. To see with closed eyes invites contemplation about the nature of vision, understanding, and artistic experience. Rather than focusing solely on what is immediately visible or tangible, Albers suggests that meaningful perception often begins from within. An artist embarks on the creative process not just by observing external forms, but by envisioning possibilities beyond the surface, guided by memory, intuition, and internal imagery.

Such an approach challenges the primacy of pure sensory input. Physical sight provides information about the outer world, but imagination, memory, and conceptual thought enrich what we see. When one’s eyes are closed, distractions of detail, literal representation, or preconceptions fall away, allowing space for personal interpretation and creative associations. Artists throughout history have turned inward to reconnect with their feelings, experiences, and subconscious, reflecting their internal dialogue rather than depicting mere appearances.

This attitude also speaks to the value of reflection, contemplation, and the process of translating inner visions into external reality. The act of closing one's eyes can symbolize a temporary withdrawal from the world’s distractions to access deeper levels of awareness. For Albers, who deeply investigated perception, this notion reinforces the idea that true understanding does not come just from passive observation but from active engagement with ideas. Creative thought often flourishes when the mind is allowed to wander beyond what the open eye can grasp.

By advocating for seeing with closed eyes, Albers affirms the significance of the inner world as a source of artistic insight, innovation, and authentic perception. Creativity depends not only on external observation, but as much, if not more, on the artist’s ability to engage their imagination and personal vision, fostering new ways of seeing and understanding the world.