--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That moment when the person actually…" description: "\"That moment when the person actually dictates the way I do the portrait is when the intimacy arrives.\" — Francesco Clemente" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/francesco-clemente-28092_intimacy_that-moment-when-the-person-actually-dic_1615527.png" --- # That moment when the person actually dictates the way I do… ![“That moment when the person actually dictates the way I do the portrait is when the intimacy arrives.” quote by Francesco Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/francesco-clemente-28092_intimacy_that-moment-when-the-person-actually-dic_1615527.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/francesco-clemente-28092_intimacy_that-moment-when-the-person-actually-dic_1615527.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/francesco-clemente-28092_intimacy_that-moment-when-the-person-actually-dic_1615527.png) > “That moment when the person actually dictates the way I do the portrait is when the intimacy arrives.” [Francesco Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-clemente/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intimacy in portraiture emerges when the subject influences the artist’s approach, creating a collaborative creation. **In simple terms:** When the subject guides the portrait, deeper connection forms. Key Takeaway Invite subjects to co‑create their image. Themes art intimacy collaboration Mood reflective intimate Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - painting a portrait - photographing a friend - working with models - co‑designing visual identity - exploring personal narratives Key Concepts portraiture creative process artist‑subject dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does shared direction affect authenticity? - What balance between control and freedom feels right? A Different Perspective Risk of losing artistic autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actually Dictates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually-dictates-6161188/) [Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy/) [Intimacy Arrives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy-arrives-6161187/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Portrait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portrait/) [Portrait Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portrait-intimacy-6161186/) [Portraits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portraits/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [That moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/that-moment/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a sense, every work you do is a self-portrait because your paintings always reveal more about you than about your subject. Your experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-schmid/in-a-sense-every-work-you-do-is-a-self-portrait-because-your/) [Richard Schmid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-schmid/) > [My dog, Puffy. The dog is the perfect portrait subject. He doesn't pose. He isn't aware of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-demarchelier/my-dog-puffy-the-dog-is-the-perfect-portrait-subject-he-doesn-t-pose/) [Patrick Demarchelier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-demarchelier/) > [Perhaps I have not lined his portrait too clearly. But if he exists, if only for the reason that I have imagined him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/perhaps-i-have-not-lined-his-portrait-too-clearly-but-if-he-exists-if/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [When painting portraits a lot of people say, 'Why not get a photograph of the person?' Photography is wonderful and it is an art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-wyeth/when-painting-portraits-a-lot-of-people-say-why-not-get-a-photograph/) [Jamie Wyeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-wyeth/) > [Nothing in a portrait is a matter of indifference. Gesture, grimace, clothing, decor even - all must combine to realize a character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/nothing-in-a-portrait-is-a-matter-of-indifference-gesture-grimace/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [My early childhood equipped me really well for my portrait work: The quick encounter, where you are not going to know the subject for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/my-early-childhood-equipped-me-really-well-for-my-portrait-work-the/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/a-portrait-is-not-made-in-the-camera-but-on-either-side-of-it/) [Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/) > [Life is a series of family photos in which you keep moving to the rear until finally you're a portrait in the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/life-is-a-series-of-family-photos-in-which-you-keep-moving-to-the/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [Portrait painters' mission is to portray people and the beauty of Creation. They should stay clear of ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-babailov/portrait-painters-mission-is-to-portray-people-and-the-beauty-of/) [Igor Babailov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-babailov/) > [Eloquence is a painting of thought; and thus those who, after having painted it, add something more, make a picture instead of a portrait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/eloquence-is-a-painting-of-thought-and-thus-those-who-after-having/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [A portrait is a picture in which there is just a tiny little something not quite right about the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singer-sargent/a-portrait-is-a-picture-in-which-there-is-just-a-tiny-little/) [John Singer Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singer-sargent/) > [Many times I see you as a portrait of torture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/many-times-i-see-you-as-a-portrait-of-torture/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [In a portrait, you always leave part of yourself behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ellen-mark/in-a-portrait-you-always-leave-part-of-yourself-behind/) [Mary Ellen Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ellen-mark/) > [For me, a good portrait shows the fragility and humility of the person, and at the same time a strength, a resting in themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-tillmans/for-me-a-good-portrait-shows-the-fragility-and-humility-of-the-person/) [Wolfgang Tillmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-tillmans/) ## More by Francesco Clemente > [I first think of intelligence. You need it for surviving in Italy because Italy is so pompous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/i-first-think-of-intelligence-you-need-it-for-surviving-in-italy/) [Francesco Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-clemente/) > [When you sit for an hour and a half in front of somebody, he or she shows about twenty faces. And so it's this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/when-you-sit-for-an-hour-and-a-half-in-front-of-somebody-he-or-she/) [Francesco Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-clemente/) > [Maybe poets express more directly a sense of sympathy for other human beings. Painting is a little bit more of a retreat from human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/maybe-poets-express-more-directly-a-sense-of-sympathy-for-other-human/) [Francesco Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-clemente/) > [When I look at a drawing of a person, I look at that person as living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/when-i-look-at-a-drawing-of-a-person-i-look-at-that-person-as-living/) [Francesco Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-clemente/) > [There's poetry in the world. Poetry doesn't belong just to the poets. You know, you can look at the most premeditated, cold blooded movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/there-s-poetry-in-the-world-poetry-doesn-t-belong-just-to-the-poets/) [Francesco Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-clemente/) > [A photograph to me is always a reminder of how the person was on a certain day in that certain light fixed. 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It seems often that people get intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/we-are-not-naturally-intelligent-or-happy-in-fact-every-day-it-is/) [Francesco Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-clemente/) > [Fashion is the pursuit of perfection, Style is the acceptance of one's flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/fashion-is-the-pursuit-of-perfection-style-is-the-acceptance-of-one-s/) [Francesco Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-clemente/) > [My portraits are half what I see and the other half is invented or dictated by the person and the painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/my-portraits-are-half-what-i-see-and-the-other-half-is-invented-or/) [Francesco Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-clemente/) > [In India and in New York the economy is naked. People are starving physically in India, and emotionally in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/in-india-and-in-new-york-the-economy-is-naked-people-are-starving/) [Francesco Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-clemente/) > [In my head I am in one of those Buddhist caves where you see a thousand Buddha faces on the wall. In my head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/in-my-head-i-am-in-one-of-those-buddhist-caves-where-you-see-a/) [Francesco Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-clemente/) > [I never paint a portrait from a photograph, because a photograph doesn't give enough information about what the person feels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/i-never-paint-a-portrait-from-a-photograph-because-a-photograph-doesn/) [Francesco Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-clemente/) > [I repeatedly refuse to make any practical decisions. I get a feeling of nausea about practicality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/i-repeatedly-refuse-to-make-any-practical-decisions-i-get-a-feeling/) [Francesco Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-clemente/) > [To me the poets are closer than I am to the idea of voice, to a sort of primeval song that we all participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/to-me-the-poets-are-closer-than-i-am-to-the-idea-of-voice-to-a-sort/) [Francesco Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-clemente/) [Explore all 20 Francesco Clemente quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-clemente/) ## More Intimacy quotes > [“It's morning now, and I miss the soft rasp of her voice already. Ugh. I'm in trouble, aren't I?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-shand/it-s-morning-now-and-i-miss-the-soft-rasp-of-her-voice-already-ugh-i/) [Pat Shand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-shand/) > [“One single syllable of intimacy and the world is put to rights.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/one-single-syllable-of-intimacy-and-the-world-is-put-to-rights/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [Intimacy requires an ability to both merge and be separate, to come together and be apart, like oscillating on a giant swing from oneness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-sophia-kasl/intimacy-requires-an-ability-to-both-merge-and-be-separate-to-come/) [Charlotte Sophia Kasl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-sophia-kasl/) > [When you write something by hand, there's a sort of intimacy that is just intrinsic to that act. You don't get to delete something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/when-you-write-something-by-hand-there-s-a-sort-of-intimacy-that-is/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“Intercourse is one thing, Intimacy is everything. Be encouraged”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-e-wagner/intercourse-is-one-thing-intimacy-is-everything-be-encouraged/) [Kerry E. Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-e-wagner/) > [Is it any wonder that for millions of men the only intimacy is physical, silent, and predictable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-donahue/is-it-any-wonder-that-for-millions-of-men-the-only-intimacy-is/) [Phil Donahue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-donahue/) > [The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-lasting-value-of-our-public-service-for-god-is-measured-by-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“You thought I was answering "As you wish" but that's only because you were hearing wrong. "I love you" was what it was, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-thought-i-was-answering-as-you-wish-but-that-s-only-because-you/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) > [Awe combined with intimacy is the essence of Christian worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/awe-combined-with-intimacy-is-the-essence-of-christian-worship/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to engage people in an honest, enlightened, and provocative conversation about the nature of erotic desire and the intricacies of intimacy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/i-want-to-engage-people-in-an-honest-enlightened-and-provocative/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [Communication is a continual balancing act, juggling the conflicting needs for intimacy and independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/communication-is-a-continual-balancing-act-juggling-the-conflicting/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [Physical love is total intimacy. It is the sign that the lovers have nothing to refuse each other, that they belong wholly to each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-leclercq/physical-love-is-total-intimacy-it-is-the-sign-that-the-lovers-have/) [Jacques Leclercq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-leclercq/) > [True intimacy is the experience of real acceptance and authentic vulnerability without feeling the need to apologize or fear rejection. The freedom to just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-blake-michiels/true-intimacy-is-the-experience-of-real-acceptance-and-authentic/) [Jordan Blake Michiels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-blake-michiels/) > [“Eschew evil and it's machinations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/eschew-evil-and-it-s-machinations/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [“Lack of intimacy among friends is a mistake that cannot be censured without becoming irreparable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nietzsche-friedrich-wilhelm/lack-of-intimacy-among-friends-is-a-mistake-that-cannot-be-censured/) [NIETZSCHE FRIEDRICH WILHELM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nietzsche-friedrich-wilhelm/) [Browse all 1,461 Intimacy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That moment when the person actually dictates the way I do the portrait is when the intimacy arrives.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francesco Clemente" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/that-moment-when-the-person-actually-dictates-the-way-i-do-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Intimacy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/that-moment-when-the-person-actually-dictates-the-way-i-do-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/francesco-clemente-28092_intimacy_that-moment-when-the-person-actually-dic_1615527.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/francesco-clemente-28092_intimacy_that-moment-when-the-person-actually-dic_1615527.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/francesco-clemente-28092_intimacy_that-moment-when-the-person-actually-dic_1615527.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That moment when the person actually dictates the way I do the portrait is when the intimacy arrives.” — Francesco Clemente", "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": "Francesco Clemente", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-clemente/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That moment when the person actually...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/that-moment-when-the-person-actually-dictates-the-way-i-do-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-clemente/that-moment-when-the-person-actually-dictates-the-way-i-do-the/#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 } } ] } ```