--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The usual relationship between an artist…" description: "\"The usual relationship between an artist and his painting is like the relationship with the father, or a husband's with his wife. But mine is a relatio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/ilya-kabakov-64244_acquaintance_the-usual-relationship-between-an-artist_857174.jpg" --- # The usual relationship between an artist and his painting… ![“The usual relationship between an artist and his painting is like the relationship with the father, or a husband's with his wife. But mine is a relationship with a stranger... with the chance acquaintance.” quote by Ilya Kabakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/ilya-kabakov-64244_acquaintance_the-usual-relationship-between-an-artist_857174.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/ilya-kabakov-64244_acquaintance_the-usual-relationship-between-an-artist_857174.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/ilya-kabakov-64244_acquaintance_the-usual-relationship-between-an-artist_857174.jpg) > “The usual relationship between an artist and his painting is like the relationship with the father, or a husband's with his wife. But mine is a relationship with a stranger... with the chance acquaintance.” [Ilya Kabakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-kabakov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist sees his work as a personal, intimate bond, yet also as an encounter with something unfamiliar and unexpected. **In simple terms:** Creating art feels like a marriage, but also meeting a stranger. Key Takeaway Embrace both intimacy and mystery in creation. Themes art relationships creativity Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - painting - sculpture - installation - performance art Key Concepts intimacy otherness creative process Questions to Reflect On - How does unfamiliarity inspire your work? - What risks arise when treating art as a stranger? A Different Perspective The stranger aspect can cause alienation or loss of control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquaintance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintance/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Confession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confession/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Husband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [Parenthood abruptly catapults us into a permanent relationship with a stranger,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/parenthood-abruptly-catapults-us-into-a-permanent-relationship-with-a-2/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [It's hard to force a relationship with a stranger even if they happen to be someone you happen to share blood with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-olsen/it-s-hard-to-force-a-relationship-with-a-stranger-even-if-they-happen/) [Angel Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel-olsen/) > [Unknown way, the relationship stranger, stranger things considered their faces, were robbed on the pretext of love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/unknown-way-the-relationship-stranger-stranger-things-considered/) Mak\_786 > [Sometimes you can be lucky enough to establish a working relationship with another artist who takes away the loneliness, particularly in travel and outdoor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/sometimes-you-can-be-lucky-enough-to-establish-a-working-relationship/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [If I go into a relationship with an artist, which at most is going to last five years, we have a 100-page contract covering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-cowell/if-i-go-into-a-relationship-with-an-artist-which-at-most-is-going-to/) [Simon Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-cowell/) > [I include myself in the posters because I feel like it forms a more intimate relationship between the artist and the person passing by.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morley/i-include-myself-in-the-posters-because-i-feel-like-it-forms-a-more/) [Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morley/) > [To me, the ideal artist-to-audience relationship is a one-to-zero relationship. The artist should be granted anonymity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-gould/to-me-the-ideal-artist-to-audience-relationship-is-a-one-to-zero/) [Glenn Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-gould/) > [God is a spirit. Jesus was led up of the Spirit to be tempted of the Devil; and it is also true that spirits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradlaugh/god-is-a-spirit-jesus-was-led-up-of-the-spirit-to-be-tempted-of-the/) [Charles Bradlaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradlaugh/) > [In addition to my other numerous acquaintances, I have one more intimate confidant… My depression is the most faithful mistress I have known —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/in-addition-to-my-other-numerous-acquaintances-i-have-one-more/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [“I'd rather be a nodding acquaintance, than a bobble head”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/i-d-rather-be-a-nodding-acquaintance-than-a-bobble-head/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [One frequently only finds out how really beautiful a women is, until after considerable acquaintance with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/one-frequently-only-finds-out-how-really-beautiful-a-women-is-until/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The study of history and philosophy, accompanied by some acquaintance with art and literature, should be for lawyers and engineers as well as for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/the-study-of-history-and-philosophy-accompanied-by-some-acquaintance/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [Be much alone with God, and take time to get thoroughly acquainted. Converse over everything with Him. Unburden yourself wholly -every thought, feeling, wish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatius-bonar/be-much-alone-with-god-and-take-time-to-get-thoroughly-acquainted/) [Horatius Bonar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatius-bonar/) > [Distrust all those who love you extremely upon a very slight acquaintance and without any visible reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distrust-all-those-who-love-you-extremely-upon-a-very-slight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ilya Kabakov > [Don't believe Wikipedia, not everything written there is true. The Soviet Artists Union was not a communist party organization. It was a professional union,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-kabakov/don-t-believe-wikipedia-not-everything-written-there-is-true-the/) [Ilya Kabakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-kabakov/) > [Fear is the reason for making art. It is a means to freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-kabakov/fear-is-the-reason-for-making-art-it-is-a-means-to-freedom/) [Ilya Kabakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-kabakov/) > [For me the artworld is like a huge river, which began somewhere in the past and keeps flowing towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-kabakov/for-me-the-artworld-is-like-a-huge-river-which-began-somewhere-in-the/) [Ilya Kabakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-kabakov/) > [A lot of artists were members of the artistic union. It gave you the possibility to buy paints, canvases, brushes, even the possibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-kabakov/a-lot-of-artists-were-members-of-the-artistic-union-it-gave-you-the/) [Ilya Kabakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-kabakov/) [Explore all 5 Ilya Kabakov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-kabakov/) ## More Acquaintance quotes > [Distrust all those who love you extremely upon a very slight acquaintance and without any visible reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distrust-all-those-who-love-you-extremely-upon-a-very-slight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be much alone with God, and take time to get thoroughly acquainted. Converse over everything with Him. Unburden yourself wholly -every thought, feeling, wish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatius-bonar/be-much-alone-with-god-and-take-time-to-get-thoroughly-acquainted/) [Horatius Bonar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatius-bonar/) > [The study of history and philosophy, accompanied by some acquaintance with art and literature, should be for lawyers and engineers as well as for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/the-study-of-history-and-philosophy-accompanied-by-some-acquaintance/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [One frequently only finds out how really beautiful a women is, until after considerable acquaintance with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/one-frequently-only-finds-out-how-really-beautiful-a-women-is-until/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“I'd rather be a nodding acquaintance, than a bobble head”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/i-d-rather-be-a-nodding-acquaintance-than-a-bobble-head/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [In addition to my other numerous acquaintances, I have one more intimate confidant… My depression is the most faithful mistress I have known —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/in-addition-to-my-other-numerous-acquaintances-i-have-one-more/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [God is a spirit. Jesus was led up of the Spirit to be tempted of the Devil; and it is also true that spirits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradlaugh/god-is-a-spirit-jesus-was-led-up-of-the-spirit-to-be-tempted-of-the/) [Charles Bradlaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradlaugh/) > [ \[On an anarchist acquaintance:\] Everything in appearance the most alarmist aunt could wish. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/on-an-anarchist-acquaintance-everything-in-appearance-the-most/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [There is no such thing as educational value in the abstract. The notion that some subjects and methods and that acquaintance with certain facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/there-is-no-such-thing-as-educational-value-in-the-abstract-the/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [ \[Books\] will visit you at your convenience, whether you are lonesome or not, on rainy days or fair. They propose themselves as either transient… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/books-will-visit-you-at-your-convenience-whether-you-are-lonesome-or/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [I'm not dating Prateik; he is just a good acquaintance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amyra-dastur/i-m-not-dating-prateik-he-is-just-a-good-acquaintance/) [Amyra Dastur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amyra-dastur/) > [Moderation is the inseparable companion of wisdom, but with it genius has not even a nodding acquaintance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/moderation-is-the-inseparable-companion-of-wisdom-but-with-it-genius/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [The greatest embarrassment of my political career has been that active duties seem to deprive me of time for careful investigation. I seem almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-greatest-embarrassment-of-my-political-career-has-been-that/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [A woman who can't forgive should never have more than a nodding acquaintance with a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-woman-who-can-t-forgive-should-never-have-more-than-a-nodding/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 484 Acquaintance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The usual relationship between an artist and his painting is like the relationship with the father, or a husband's with his wife. 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