--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem of a painting is physical and…" description: "\"The problem of a painting is physical and metaphysical, the same as I think life is physical and metaphysical.\" — Barnett Newman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27f/barnett-newman-26779_artist_the-problem-of-a-painting-is-physical-an_1945124.png" --- # The problem of a painting is physical and metaphysical… ![“The problem of a painting is physical and metaphysical, the same as I think life is physical and metaphysical.” quote by Barnett Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27f/barnett-newman-26779_artist_the-problem-of-a-painting-is-physical-an_1945124.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27f/barnett-newman-26779_artist_the-problem-of-a-painting-is-physical-an_1945124.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27f/barnett-newman-26779_artist_the-problem-of-a-painting-is-physical-an_1945124.png) > “The problem of a painting is physical and metaphysical, the same as I think life is physical and metaphysical.” [Barnett Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnett-newman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote links painting’s tangible and intangible aspects to life’s material and spiritual dimensions. **In simple terms:** Art and life share physical and metaphysical qualities. Key Takeaway Recognize both concrete and deeper layers in work and living. Themes art philosophy existence Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - painting creation - life reflection - creative practice - spiritual contemplation Key Concepts metaphysics materialism dualism Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing the metaphysical change your artistic process? - What physical aspects of life feel spiritual to you? A Different Perspective May overlook the emotional impact of purely physical aspects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Metaphysical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphysical/) [Metaphysical Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphysical-think-3123519/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Painting Physical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting-physical-3123520/) [Physical Metaphysical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-metaphysical-897267/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Man is physical as well as metaphysical, a thing of shreds and patches, borrowed unequally from good and bad ancestors, and a misfit from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/man-is-physical-as-well-as-metaphysical-a-thing-of-shreds-and-patches/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A poet without love were a physical and metaphysical impossibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-poet-without-love-were-a-physical-and-metaphysical-impossibility/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Make something, a kind of object, which as it changes or falls apart (dies as it were) or increases in its parts (grows as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/make-something-a-kind-of-object-which-as-it-changes-or-falls-apart/) [Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-johns/) > [If your life is full, you will paint full pictures. 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To control your mind, control your breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/to-control-your-life-control-your-mind-to-control-your-mind-control/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“The struggle didn't leave a scar; it left a geography.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-lynn/the-struggle-didn-t-leave-a-scar-it-left-a-geography/) [Brandi Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-lynn/) > [Metaphysical assertions, however, are statements of the psyche, and are therefore psychological. Whenever the Westerner hears the word “psychological,” it always sounds to him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/metaphysical-assertions-however-are-statements-of-the-psyche-and-are/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [ “\[T\]he question "What is everything?" has no meaning, even though it seems to be profound. \[...\] The point is, perhaps, that I am not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/t-he-question-what-is-everything-has-no-meaning-even-though-it-seems/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) ## More by Barnett Newman > [From the very beginning I felt that I would do a series,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnett-newman/from-the-very-beginning-i-felt-that-i-would-do-a-series/) [Barnett Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnett-newman/) > [We are in the process of making the world, to a certain extent, in our own image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnett-newman/we-are-in-the-process-of-making-the-world-to-a-certain-extent-in-our/) [Barnett Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnett-newman/) > [Sculpture is what you bump into when you back up to see a painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnett-newman/sculpture-is-what-you-bump-into-when-you-back-up-to-see-a-painting/) [Barnett Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnett-newman/) > [Painting, like passion, is a living voice, which, when I hear it, I must let it speak, unfettered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnett-newman/painting-like-passion-is-a-living-voice-which-when-i-hear-it-i-must/) [Barnett Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnett-newman/) > [Painting, like passion, is a living voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnett-newman/painting-like-passion-is-a-living-voice/) [Barnett Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnett-newman/) > [When painters feel the need to make a shift toward self-discovery, they turn to black and white for a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnett-newman/when-painters-feel-the-need-to-make-a-shift-toward-self-discovery/) [Barnett Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnett-newman/) > [Any art worthy of its name should address 'life', 'man', 'nature', 'death' and 'tragedy'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnett-newman/any-art-worthy-of-its-name-should-address-life-man-nature-death-and/) [Barnett Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnett-newman/) > [I hope that my painting has the impact of giving someone, as it did me, the feeling of his own totality, of his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnett-newman/i-hope-that-my-painting-has-the-impact-of-giving-someone-as-it-did-me/) [Barnett Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnett-newman/) > [The impulse of modern art was this desire to destroy beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnett-newman/the-impulse-of-modern-art-was-this-desire-to-destroy-beauty/) [Barnett Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnett-newman/) > [I prefer to leave the paintings to speak for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnett-newman/i-prefer-to-leave-the-paintings-to-speak-for-themselves/) [Barnett Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnett-newman/) > [“Anonymity is the truest heroism .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnett-newman/anonymity-is-the-truest-heroism/) [Barnett Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnett-newman/) > [We have lost contact with man's natural desire for the exalted, for a concern with our relation to absolute emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnett-newman/we-have-lost-contact-with-man-s-natural-desire-for-the-exalted-for-a/) [Barnett Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnett-newman/) > [What is the explanation of the seemingly insane drive of man to be painter and poet if it is not an act of defiance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnett-newman/what-is-the-explanation-of-the-seemingly-insane-drive-of-man-to-be/) [Barnett Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnett-newman/) > [The impulse of modern art is the desire to destroy beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnett-newman/the-impulse-of-modern-art-is-the-desire-to-destroy-beauty/) [Barnett Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnett-newman/) > [It is our function as artists to make the spectator see the world our way not his way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnett-newman/it-is-our-function-as-artists-to-make-the-spectator-see-the-world-our/) [Barnett Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnett-newman/) [Explore all 21 Barnett Newman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnett-newman/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; 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Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. 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