Absolutely nothing Quote by Gerhard Richter
“Painting is the making of an analogy for something non-visual and incomprehensible - giving it form and bringing it within reach. And that is why good paintings are incomprehensible. Creating the incomprehensible has absolutely nothing to do with turning out any old bunkum, because bunkum is always comprehensible.”
About This Quote
Source Artist Statement, 1999
Paintings translate abstract, non‑visual concepts into visual form, yet remain inherently mysterious.
In simple terms: Art visualizes the unseen, staying mysterious.
Key Takeaway
Embrace ambiguity in creative work.
Themes
art
analogy
visualization
abstraction
mystery
Mood
contemplative
introspective
Type
artistic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- gallery exhibitions
- art education
- creative practice
- critical analysis
Key Concepts
aesthetic theory
conceptual art
Questions to Reflect On
- How does ambiguity affect your interpretation?
- What role does mystery play in art?
A Different Perspective
Mystery may alienate some viewers.
![“By profession a biologist, [Thomas Henry Huxley] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences. Absolutely nothing was uninteresting to him. His curiosity ranged from music to theology and from philosophy to history. He didn't simply know something…” quote by H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f46/h-l-mencken-245_absolutely-nothing_by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-h_5368.jpg)
