--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Painting is the making of an analogy for…" description: "\"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 ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d03/gerhard-richter-2249_absolutely-nothing_painting-is-the-making-of-an-analogy-for_2690155.jpg" --- # Painting is the making of an analogy for something… ![“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…” quote by Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d03/gerhard-richter-2249_absolutely-nothing_painting-is-the-making-of-an-analogy-for_2690155.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d03/gerhard-richter-2249_absolutely-nothing_painting-is-the-making-of-an-analogy-for_2690155.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d03/gerhard-richter-2249_absolutely-nothing_painting-is-the-making-of-an-analogy-for_2690155.jpg) > “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.” [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolutely nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutely-nothing/) [Analogies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analogies/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Creating Incomprehensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating-incomprehensible-2651867/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Good Paintings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-paintings-2651868/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Painting Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting-making-2651866/) [Paintings Incomprehensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paintings-incomprehensible-2651865/) [Visuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visuals/) [Within reach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/within-reach/) ## Related quotes > [I've been painting and making things since I was little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemima-kirke/i-ve-been-painting-and-making-things-since-i-was-little/) [Jemima Kirke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemima-kirke/) > [“You can be a good painter if you study Cézanne's vision. Whoever dares to copy Van Gogh falls inevitably into the hell of imitators.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-herbert/you-can-be-a-good-painter-if-you-study-c-zanne-s-vision-whoever-dares/) [Zbigniew Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-herbert/) > [Living with and studying good paintings offers greater interest, variety and satisfaction than any other pleasure known to man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-c-barnes/living-with-and-studying-good-paintings-offers-greater-interest/) [Albert C. Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-c-barnes/) > [I believe in the power of song. Under the spell of the right song, passion is within reach, love is close by, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/i-believe-in-the-power-of-song-under-the-spell-of-the-right-song/) [Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/) > [“I learned an important lesson about staying focused on the task at hand. It was important to have dreams, but if all you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jennings-hegar/i-learned-an-important-lesson-about-staying-focused-on-the-task-at/) [Mary Jennings Hegar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jennings-hegar/) > [Doubly happy, however, is the man to whom lofty mountain tops are within reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/doubly-happy-however-is-the-man-to-whom-lofty-mountain-tops-are/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Photography is thus brought within reach of every human being who desires to preserve a record of what he sees… and enables the fortunate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eastman/photography-is-thus-brought-within-reach-of-every-human-being-who/) [George Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eastman/) > [A vision has to be within reach not in the air. It has to be achievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhirubhai-ambani/a-vision-has-to-be-within-reach-not-in-the-air-it-has-to-be-achievable/) [Dhirubhai Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhirubhai-ambani/) > [“ Benvenuta a la Via dell’Amore,” he says, poking a bright pink lock with Ashlee + Jake written on it in white paint. “What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-rae/benvenuta-a-la-via-dell-amore-he-says-poking-a-bright-pink-lock-with/) [Kristin Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-rae/) > [“If an economy has a stagnant labor force operating at a constant level of productivity, it will have constant output but no growth. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rickards/if-an-economy-has-a-stagnant-labor-force-operating-at-a-constant/) [James Rickards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rickards/) > [“That's how it was on Irving Circle and how I was raised: You made the best out of what was within reach, which meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elinor-lipman/that-s-how-it-was-on-irving-circle-and-how-i-was-raised-you-made-the/) [Elinor Lipman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elinor-lipman/) > [“Companies don't have a "talent shortage" they have a "development shortage", the talent you need is within reach, you just need to develop them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janna-cachola/companies-don-t-have-a-talent-shortage-they-have-a-development/) [Janna Cachola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janna-cachola/) > [“Intuition is an omnipotent wonder, for it is not bound by the bands of time or space. When we are tune with it, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaeda-dewalt/intuition-is-an-omnipotent-wonder-for-it-is-not-bound-by-the-bands-of/) [Jaeda DeWalt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaeda-dewalt/) > [“I will always be within reach if you need me, little one...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-von/i-will-always-be-within-reach-if-you-need-me-little-one/) [A.R. Von](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-von/) > [During my first years in the Sierra, I was ever calling on everybody within reach to admire them, but I found no one half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/during-my-first-years-in-the-sierra-i-was-ever-calling-on-everybody/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) ## More by Gerhard Richter > [Art shows us how to see things that are constructive and good, and to be an active part of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/art-shows-us-how-to-see-things-that-are-constructive-and-good-and-to/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [They are specific places I have discovered here and there when I am on the road to take photos. I go especially to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/they-are-specific-places-i-have-discovered-here-and-there-when-i-am/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [To me, grey is the welcome and only possible equivalent for indifference, noncommitment, absence of opinion, absence of shape. But grey, like formlessness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/to-me-grey-is-the-welcome-and-only-possible-equivalent-for/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [Now that we do not have priests and philosophers any more, artists are the most important people in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/now-that-we-do-not-have-priests-and-philosophers-any-more-artists-are/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [Yes, we were amazed when that happened. It was a real joke to us. Konrad Lueg and I did a Happening, and we used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/yes-we-were-amazed-when-that-happened-it-was-a-real-joke-to-us-konrad/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [A work of art is itself an object, first of all, and so manipulation is unavoidable: it's a prerequisite. But I needed the greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/a-work-of-art-is-itself-an-object-first-of-all-and-so-manipulation-is/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [The photograph is the only picture that can truly convey information, even if it is technically faulty and the object can barely be identified.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/the-photograph-is-the-only-picture-that-can-truly-convey-information/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [Perhaps the choice is a negative one, in that I was trying to avoid everything that touched on well-known issues - or any issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/perhaps-the-choice-is-a-negative-one-in-that-i-was-trying-to-avoid/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [Gray is the color... the most important of all... absent of opinion, nothing, neither/nor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/gray-is-the-color-the-most-important-of-all-absent-of-opinion-nothing/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [All photographs are far more important than any painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/all-photographs-are-far-more-important-than-any-painting/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [You can compare it to dreams: you have a very specific and individual pictorial language that you either accept or that you can translate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/you-can-compare-it-to-dreams-you-have-a-very-specific-and-individual/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [What attracted me about my mirrors was the idea of having nothing manipulated in them. A piece of bought mirror. Just hung there, without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/what-attracted-me-about-my-mirrors-was-the-idea-of-having-nothing/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [But it is also untrue that I have nothing specific in mind. As with my landscapes: I see countless landscapes, photograph barely 1 in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/but-it-is-also-untrue-that-i-have-nothing-specific-in-mind-as-with-my/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [My landscapes are not only beautiful or nostalgic, with a Romantic or classical suggestion of lost Paradises, but above all 'untruthful'...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/my-landscapes-are-not-only-beautiful-or-nostalgic-with-a-romantic-or/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [I have always been structured. What has changed is the proportions. Now it is eight hours of paperwork and one of painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/i-have-always-been-structured-what-has-changed-is-the-proportions-now/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) [Explore all 176 Gerhard Richter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) ## More Absolutely nothing quotes > [ By profession a biologist, \[Thomas Henry Huxley\] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-huxley-covered-in-fact-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Amateur psychiatric prognosis can be fascinating when there is absolutely nothing else to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-condon/amateur-psychiatric-prognosis-can-be-fascinating-when-there-is/) [Richard Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-condon/) > [I am unusual for a Frenchman - I have absolutely nothing against the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/i-am-unusual-for-a-frenchman-i-have-absolutely-nothing-against-the/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [I know quickly whether a guy is boyfriend material. If I can have a good time doing absolutely nothing with him, then that's boyfriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-hannigan/i-know-quickly-whether-a-guy-is-boyfriend-material-if-i-can-have-a/) [Alyson Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-hannigan/) > [I cannot conceive of music that expresses absolutely nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-bartok/i-cannot-conceive-of-music-that-expresses-absolutely-nothing/) [Bela Bartok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-bartok/) > [Well, I've got nothing to hide. Absolutely nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/well-i-ve-got-nothing-to-hide-absolutely-nothing/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-caddy/expect-the-most-wonderful-things-to-happen-not-in-the-future-but/) [Eileen Caddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-caddy/) > [There is no reason not to love. There is no reason not to be joyous. There is no reason not to celebrate because all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-is-no-reason-not-to-love-there-is-no-reason-not-to-be-joyous/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Here is something no real celebrity will ever tell you: film acting is not very fun. Doing the same thing over and over again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/here-is-something-no-real-celebrity-will-ever-tell-you-film-acting-is/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [Listen to everyone, read everything; believe absolutely nothing unless you can prove it in your own right!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-william-cooper/listen-to-everyone-read-everything-believe-absolutely-nothing-unless/) [Milton William Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-william-cooper/) > [What a delightful thing is the conversation of specialists! One understands absolutely nothing and it's charming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-degas/what-a-delightful-thing-is-the-conversation-of-specialists-one/) [Edgar Degas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-degas/) > [I go to practice every day. I really don't have a training camp. In the boxing world, and that's where that came from, almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/i-go-to-practice-every-day-i-really-don-t-have-a-training-camp-in-the/) [Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/) > [There is absolutely nothing that you desire that you cannot achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/there-is-absolutely-nothing-that-you-desire-that-you-cannot-achieve/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [What did Republicans get for 16 days of a government shutdown with people being hurt? We have absolutely nothing to show for it, other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/what-did-republicans-get-for-16-days-of-a-government-shutdown-with/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [Speak kind words to mankind and the unkind will attack you. Speak common sense using all your senses, and you will attacked by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/speak-kind-words-to-mankind-and-the-unkind-will-attack-you-speak/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) [Browse all 268 Absolutely nothing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutely-nothing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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. 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