--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Depth, in a pictorial, plastic sense, is…" description: "\"Depth, in a pictorial, plastic sense, is not created by the arrangement of objects one after another toward a vanishing point, in the sense of the Rena..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/hans-hofmann-11062_absolutes_depth-in-a-pictorial-plastic-sense-is-no_1377277.jpg" --- # Depth, in a pictorial, plastic sense, is not created by… ![“Depth, in a pictorial, plastic sense, is not created by the arrangement of objects one after another toward a vanishing point, in the sense of the Renaissance perspective, but on the contrary (and in absolute denial of this doctrine) by the creation of forces in the sense of push and pull . Nor is…” quote by Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/hans-hofmann-11062_absolutes_depth-in-a-pictorial-plastic-sense-is-no_1377277.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/hans-hofmann-11062_absolutes_depth-in-a-pictorial-plastic-sense-is-no_1377277.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/hans-hofmann-11062_absolutes_depth-in-a-pictorial-plastic-sense-is-no_1377277.jpg) > “Depth, in a pictorial, plastic sense, is not created by the arrangement of objects one after another toward a vanishing point, in the sense of the Renaissance perspective, but on the contrary (and in absolute denial of this doctrine) by the creation of forces in the sense of push and pull . Nor is depth created by tonal gradation (another doctrine of the academician which, at its culmination, degraded the use of color to a mere function of expressing dark and light).” [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Depth arises from dynamic forces of push and pull, not linear perspective or tonal shading. **In simple terms:** Depth is created by visual tension, not just lines or tones. Key Takeaway Embrace tension to create visual depth. Themes art visual perception modernism Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - painting composition - graphic design - interior space - visual storytelling Key Concepts push and pull dynamic tension color theory Questions to Reflect On - How can you use push and pull in your next visual project? - What tension adds depth to your work? A Different Perspective May be difficult to convey without clear narrative context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Arrangements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrangements/) [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Creation Forces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation-forces-4179101/) [Culmination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culmination/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Dark And Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-and-light/) [Denial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denial/) [Depth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth/) [Depth Created](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth-created-4760628/) [Depth Pictorial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth-pictorial-3782227/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Pictorial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pictorial/) [Plastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plastic/) [Renaissance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/renaissance/) [Tonal Gradation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tonal-gradation-2675929/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Vanishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanishing/) [Vanishing point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanishing-point/) ## Related quotes > [Since light is best expressed through differences in color quality, color should not be handled as a tonal gradation, to produce the effect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/since-light-is-best-expressed-through-differences-in-color-quality/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [Power," Nita heard her father say behind her. "Creation. Forces from before time. This is--this business is for saints, not children!" Even saints have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-duane/power-nita-heard-her-father-say-behind-her-creation-forces-from/) [Diane Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-duane/) > [We affirm depth as the only pictorial and plastic form of space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naum-gabo/we-affirm-depth-as-the-only-pictorial-and-plastic-form-of-space/) [Naum Gabo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naum-gabo/) > [Love and hate, black and white, Right or wrong, who is right? 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To my mind the defining characteristic of our era is spin, everything tailored to vanishing point by market research,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/now-death-is-uncool-old-fashioned-to-my-mind-the-defining/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [“To my mind the defining characteristic of our era is spin, everything tailored to vanishing point by market research, brands and bands manufactured to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/to-my-mind-the-defining-characteristic-of-our-era-is-spin-everything/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [The vanishing point leads to the missiles of today, which can take us out of this world. It could be that the west's greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hockney/the-vanishing-point-leads-to-the-missiles-of-today-which-can-take-us/) [David Hockney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hockney/) > [In television, images are projected at you. You are the screen. The images wrap around you. You are the vanishing point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/in-television-images-are-projected-at-you-you-are-the-screen-the/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [“Religious faith represents so uncompromising a misuse of the power of our minds that it forms a kind of perverse, cultural singularity ― a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/religious-faith-represents-so-uncompromising-a-misuse-of-the-power-of/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“praise any word that can hold you. Praise all but the vanishing point where we stand now, not quite parted. Already memories fall like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/praise-any-word-that-can-hold-you-praise-all-but-the-vanishing-point/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [The idea, therefore, that religious faith is somehow a sacred human convention—distinguished, as it is, both by the extravagance of its claims and by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-idea-therefore-that-religious-faith-is-somehow-a-sacred-human/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“What was in them was promise. 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America now suffers spiritual poverty, and art must become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/it-takes-intelligence-and-training-self-discipline-and-fine/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [When the impulses which stir us to profound emotion are integrated with the medium of expression, every interview of the soul may become art.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/when-the-impulses-which-stir-us-to-profound-emotion-are-integrated/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [A thing in itself never expresses anything. It is the relation between things that gives meaning to them and that formulates a thought. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/a-thing-in-itself-never-expresses-anything-it-is-the-relation-between/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [Genius is gifted with a vitality which is expended in the enrichment of life through the discovery of new worlds of feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/genius-is-gifted-with-a-vitality-which-is-expended-in-the-enrichment/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [The whole world, as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/the-whole-world-as-we-experience-it-visually-comes-to-us-through-the/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [I can't understand how anyone is able to paint without optimism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/i-can-t-understand-how-anyone-is-able-to-paint-without-optimism/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [To worship the product and ignore its development leads to dilettantism and reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/to-worship-the-product-and-ignore-its-development-leads-to/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [The creative process lies not in imitating, but in paralleling nature - translating the impulse received from nature into the medium of expression, thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/the-creative-process-lies-not-in-imitating-but-in-paralleling-nature/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [To me, art is the glorification of the human spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/to-me-art-is-the-glorification-of-the-human-spirit/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [Nature's purpose in relation to the visual arts is to provide stimulus not imitation. From its ceaseless urge to create springs all Life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/nature-s-purpose-in-relation-to-the-visual-arts-is-to-provide/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [A thought functions only as a fragmentary part in the formulation of an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/a-thought-functions-only-as-a-fragmentary-part-in-the-formulation-of/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) [Explore all 62 Hans Hofmann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) ## More Absolutes quotes > [At the centre of the human heart is the longing for an absolute good, a longing which is always there and is never appeased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/at-the-centre-of-the-human-heart-is-the-longing-for-an-absolute-good/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. 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