---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only the four corners of the background…"
description: "\"Only the four corners of the background remained. It was terribly difficult to fix my eyes on all of them at the same time. My experience was that the ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/arnulf-rainer-43991_art_only-the-four-corners-of-the-background_2663622.jpg"
---

#  Only the four corners of the background remained. It was…

![“Only the four corners of the background remained. It was terribly difficult to fix my eyes on all of them at the same time. My experience was that the most difficult thing of all in art is painting in all four corners at the same time.” quote by Arnulf Rainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/arnulf-rainer-43991_art_only-the-four-corners-of-the-background_2663622.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/arnulf-rainer-43991_art_only-the-four-corners-of-the-background_2663622.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/arnulf-rainer-43991_art_only-the-four-corners-of-the-background_2663622.jpg)

> “Only the four corners of the background remained. It was terribly difficult to fix my eyes on all of them at the same time. My experience was that the most difficult thing of all in art is painting in all four corners at the same time.”

[Arnulf Rainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnulf-rainer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The challenge in painting is to give equal attention to every part of the canvas, especially the corners, which are often neglected.

**In simple terms:** Balancing focus across a whole work is hard.

Key Takeaway

Give each area equal care.

Themes

art focus balance

Mood

contemplative analytical

Type

instructional reflective

When to use this quote

- painting
- design
- visual art
- education

Key Concepts

visual perception composition

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you ensure no part of a project is ignored?
- What techniques help maintain equal attention?

A Different Perspective

Neglecting corners can weaken the overall impact.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Difficult things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-things/) [Four Corners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four-corners/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/)

## Related quotes

> [I was making a film called The White Tower at the foot of Mont Blanc - the one thing I learned from that experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-ford/i-was-making-a-film-called-the-white-tower-at-the-foot-of-mont-blanc/)

[Glenn Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-ford/)

> [You can tell young actors it's going to be very difficult, but there's no way you can understand the difficulties and the rewards through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-hunter/you-can-tell-young-actors-it-s-going-to-be-very-difficult-but-there-s/)

[Holly Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-hunter/)

> [Every step of way, going from a small town to Charlottesville and playing in the ACC - that whole experience is a difficult adjustment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-harris/every-step-of-way-going-from-a-small-town-to-charlottesville-and/)

[Joe Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-harris/)

> [“We don't actually know what a positive or negative experience is. Some of the most difficult and stressful moments of our lives also end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/we-don-t-actually-know-what-a-positive-or-negative-experience-is-some/)

[Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/)

> [As far as the NFL experience, it's difficult. It's a ton of fun, but it's difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taysom-hill/as-far-as-the-nfl-experience-it-s-difficult-it-s-a-ton-of-fun-but-it/)

[Taysom Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taysom-hill/)

> [“When we experience something that is difficult and requires significant time and effort, we are quick to think, This is supposed to be easy;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-we-experience-something-that-is-difficult-and-requires/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [The period of greatest gain in knowledge and experience is the most difficult period in one's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-period-of-greatest-gain-in-knowledge-and-experience-is-the-most/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [“When dailiness enters memory, repetition fixes places in the mind, but it also burdens them with a wealth of experience that is often difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/when-dailiness-enters-memory-repetition-fixes-places-in-the-mind-but/)

[Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/)

> [And I came away from that experience, and it was a very difficult experience - I came to understand that you have to practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-schieffer/and-i-came-away-from-that-experience-and-it-was-a-very-difficult/)

[Bob Schieffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-schieffer/)

> [Certainly we know from our own experience how very difficult it is when you've lost an election that perhaps a lot of people were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-hewitt/certainly-we-know-from-our-own-experience-how-very-difficult-it-is/)

[Patricia Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-hewitt/)

> [I think that, at least in my experience, it is difficult when there is unfinished work. That makes it difficult to think of dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-huxley/i-think-that-at-least-in-my-experience-it-is-difficult-when-there-is/)

[Laura Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-huxley/)

> [It is difficult to wrap your mind around this intellectually and until you've had the experience, it can be difficult to understand. I tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/it-is-difficult-to-wrap-your-mind-around-this-intellectually-and/)

[Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/)

> [Because atomic behavior is so unlike ordinary experience, it is very difficult to get used to, and it appears peculiar and mysterious to everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/because-atomic-behavior-is-so-unlike-ordinary-experience-it-is-very/)

[Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/)

> [Getting over painful experience may be difficult one but at some point you will have to be brave enough in order to move forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kumar-sinha/getting-over-painful-experience-may-be-difficult-one-but-at-some/)

[Dr Anil Kumar Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kumar-sinha/)

> [Only thanks to Pop Art, my painting has become understandable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-gnoli/only-thanks-to-pop-art-my-painting-has-become-understandable/)

[Domenico Gnoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-gnoli/)

## More by Arnulf Rainer

> [I could only relax when there was just one tiny white last spot left. I could see more clearly. I could grasp the shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnulf-rainer/i-could-only-relax-when-there-was-just-one-tiny-white-last-spot-left/)

[Arnulf Rainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnulf-rainer/)

> [Only an 'almost,' a 'nearly,' is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnulf-rainer/only-an-almost-a-nearly-is-possible/)

[Arnulf Rainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnulf-rainer/)

> [The principles of my works... are the extinction of expression, permanent covering and contemplative tranquillity... My ideal is the completely dark picture, full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnulf-rainer/the-principles-of-my-works-are-the-extinction-of-expression-permanent/)

[Arnulf Rainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnulf-rainer/)

> [In 1968 I frequently would sit in a photo booth and practice self mirror images which I then documented photographically. Curious types would always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnulf-rainer/in-1968-i-frequently-would-sit-in-a-photo-booth-and-practice-self/)

[Arnulf Rainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnulf-rainer/)

> [... I felt like a new man; but I was disappointed with the photographic documentation because I still saw always the old self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnulf-rainer/i-felt-like-a-new-man-but-i-was-disappointed-with-the-photographic/)

[Arnulf Rainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnulf-rainer/)

> [Sometimes I had to force the overpainting of three corners almost without any feeling for shape, almost without inspiration, only to find my way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnulf-rainer/sometimes-i-had-to-force-the-overpainting-of-three-corners-almost/)

[Arnulf Rainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnulf-rainer/)

> [I have settled down in this border area; I am trying to find distinct standards of shape, and I long to experience, formulate, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnulf-rainer/i-have-settled-down-in-this-border-area-i-am-trying-to-find-distinct/)

[Arnulf Rainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnulf-rainer/)

> [the 'total overpaintings' developed... through incessant reworking. The original motif peeped through the edges. Gradually it vanished completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnulf-rainer/the-total-overpaintings-developed-through-incessant-reworking-the/)

[Arnulf Rainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnulf-rainer/)

[Explore all 9 Arnulf Rainer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnulf-rainer/)

## More Art quotes

> [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/)

[Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/)

> [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/)

[Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/)

> [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/)

[Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/)

> [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/)

Taf Teh

> [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/)

[Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/)

> [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/)

[Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/)

> [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/)

[Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/)

[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/)

> [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/)

[Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/)

> [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/)

[Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/)

[Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Only the four corners of the background remained. It was terribly difficult to fix my eyes on all of them at the same time. My experience was that the most difficult thing of all in art is painting in all four corners at the same time.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Arnulf Rainer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnulf-rainer/only-the-four-corners-of-the-background-remained-it-was-terribly/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Art"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnulf-rainer/only-the-four-corners-of-the-background-remained-it-was-terribly/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/arnulf-rainer-43991_art_only-the-four-corners-of-the-background_2663622.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/arnulf-rainer-43991_art_only-the-four-corners-of-the-background_2663622.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/arnulf-rainer-43991_art_only-the-four-corners-of-the-background_2663622.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Only the four corners of the background remained. It was terribly difficult to fix my eyes on all of them at…” — Arnulf Rainer",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Arnulf Rainer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnulf-rainer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Only the four corners of the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnulf-rainer/only-the-four-corners-of-the-background-remained-it-was-terribly/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnulf-rainer/only-the-four-corners-of-the-background-remained-it-was-terribly/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
