"If we could but paint with the hand what we see with the eye"
- Honore de Balzac
About this Quote
This quote by Honore de Balzac talks to the power of art and the restrictions of human understanding. It suggests that our eyes can seeing a lot appeal and complexity worldwide, but our hands are not always able to accurately catch and express it. Balzac is highlighting the gap between what we see and what we are able to produce. He might also be talking about the idea that art is a form of translation, where the artist must translate and communicate their own unique viewpoint of what they see. Overall, this quote motivates us to appreciate the charm and complexity of the world around us, while also acknowledging the restrictions of our own capabilities.
"I studied all about Gauguin. He was a banker. He was a banker who - he used to paint on Sundays. And one day he hated himself for painting on Sundays"
"When I travel, I draw and paint sketches which is great fun. And as long as you are fully aware that it has nothing to do with actual art, I think that's all right"
"There was a village watercolour society and they'd come and paint in my field. I watched them from the window, the way they would struggle this way and that to find the perfect moment. God has made every angle on that beautiful, and I felt that tremendously"
