--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are portraits and still-lifes And…" description: "\"There are portraits and still-lifes And the first, because 'human' Does not excel the second\" — Charles Tomlinson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/charles-tomlinson-47813_art_there-are-portraits-and-still-lifes-and_2695230.jpg" --- # There are portraits and still-lifes And the first, because… ![“There are portraits and still-lifes And the first, because 'human' Does not excel the second” quote by Charles Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/charles-tomlinson-47813_art_there-are-portraits-and-still-lifes-and_2695230.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/charles-tomlinson-47813_art_there-are-portraits-and-still-lifes-and_2695230.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/charles-tomlinson-47813_art_there-are-portraits-and-still-lifes-and_2695230.jpg) > “There are portraits and still-lifes And the first, because 'human' Does not excel the second” [Charles Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tomlinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human subjects surpass still‑lives in artistic value; the latter is static and less expressive. **In simple terms:** People outshine static images. Key Takeaway Prioritize human stories. Themes art humanity expression Mood analytical contemplative Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - gallery curation - creative writing - visual storytelling Key Concepts portraiture still life Questions to Reflect On - When does a still‑life become more powerful than a portrait? - How do viewers connect with static images? A Different Perspective Still‑lives can convey deep meaning too. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perception/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) ## Related quotes > [a normal human being ... does not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-horney/a-normal-human-being-does-not-exist/) [Karen Horney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-horney/) > [Laughter or crying is what a human being does when there's nothing else he can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/laughter-or-crying-is-what-a-human-being-does-when-there-s-nothing/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Humor is everywhere in that there's irony in just about anything a human does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/humor-is-everywhere-in-that-there-s-irony-in-just-about-anything-a/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) > [A dog, however nice he is, and sweet-tempered, doesn't have much of a range of options. 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