--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I really do is make portraits of the…" description: "\"What I really do is make portraits of the soul.\" — Jan Saudek" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/jan-saudek-62927_painting_what-i-really-do-is-make-portraits-of-th_2009041.png" --- # What I really do is make portraits of the soul. ![“What I really do is make portraits of the soul.” quote by Jan Saudek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/jan-saudek-62927_painting_what-i-really-do-is-make-portraits-of-th_2009041.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/jan-saudek-62927_painting_what-i-really-do-is-make-portraits-of-th_2009041.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/jan-saudek-62927_painting_what-i-really-do-is-make-portraits-of-th_2009041.png) > “What I really do is make portraits of the soul.” Jan Saudek ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Capturing inner essence reveals deeper human truths. **In simple terms:** Portraits expose inner life. Key Takeaway Seek deeper understanding. Themes art identity humanity Mood contemplative introspective Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - gallery visits - personal reflection - creative practice - therapy Key Concepts visual art psychology emotional expression Questions to Reflect On - How does visual art reveal inner feelings? - What does a portrait of your soul look like? A Different Perspective Art may not fully convey internal experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [I want to make portraits and images. I don't know how. Out of despair, I just use paint anyway. Suddenly the things you make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/i-want-to-make-portraits-and-images-i-don-t-know-how-out-of-despair-i/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Make portraits of people in typical, familiar poses, being sure above all to give their faces the same kind of expression as their bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-degas/make-portraits-of-people-in-typical-familiar-poses-being-sure-above/) [Edgar Degas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-degas/) > [When you pose for a photograph, it's behind a smile that isn't yours. You are angry and hungry and alive. What I value in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/when-you-pose-for-a-photograph-it-s-behind-a-smile-that-isn-t-yours/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [I never wanted to make portraits - to photograph celebrities, beautiful people, beautiful landscapes, beautiful buildings, or people in distressing situations… I have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-metzker/i-never-wanted-to-make-portraits-to-photograph-celebrities-beautiful/) [Ray Metzker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-metzker/) > [I am so impressed with people who can really make a big movie, a good movie. The amount of work that goes into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-am-so-impressed-with-people-who-can-really-make-a-big-movie-a-good/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [You've got to love what you do to really make things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-green/you-ve-got-to-love-what-you-do-to-really-make-things-happen/) [Philip Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-green/) > [I'm learning that if you put yourself out there and make fun of yourself first, it really does work. People can't really make fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-glaser/i-m-learning-that-if-you-put-yourself-out-there-and-make-fun-of/) [Nikki Glaser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-glaser/) > [I really do not make deals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/i-really-do-not-make-deals/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [Things kind of have their arc: you get signed, and your first thought is, 'Oh my God, I made it!' But you never really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-geiger/things-kind-of-have-their-arc-you-get-signed-and-your-first-thought/) [Teddy Geiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-geiger/) > [Clothing, and the products that you buy, are really about how they make you feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hurley/clothing-and-the-products-that-you-buy-are-really-about-how-they-make/) [Chad Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hurley/) > [“There wasn't really much else to do. Make something, and die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/there-wasn-t-really-much-else-to-do-make-something-and-die/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I think a great piece of outerwear can really make you stand out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garance-dore/i-think-a-great-piece-of-outerwear-can-really-make-you-stand-out/) [Garance Dore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garance-dore/) > [That's what acting is: really make-believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/that-s-what-acting-is-really-make-believe/) [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) > [My music is not like everybody gonna love it, it's really what I make of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blueface/my-music-is-not-like-everybody-gonna-love-it-it-s-really-what-i-make/) [Blueface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blueface/) > [Don't sell out who you really are to make others happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-dee-messina/don-t-sell-out-who-you-really-are-to-make-others-happy/) [Jo Dee Messina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-dee-messina/) ## More by Jan Saudek > [I still dream of the day when I will take a photograph so beautiful that it can be called love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-saudek/i-still-dream-of-the-day-when-i-will-take-a-photograph-so-beautiful/) Jan Saudek > [I believe all artists, if they are not lying to themselves, must believe that the best part of their work, or even their life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-saudek/i-believe-all-artists-if-they-are-not-lying-to-themselves-must/) Jan Saudek > [I have no way of portraying the lives of others. I portray my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-saudek/i-have-no-way-of-portraying-the-lives-of-others-i-portray-my-own/) Jan Saudek Explore all 4 Jan Saudek quotes ## More Painting quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [I had an idea for a technologically advanced luxury watch. I got involved in digital art and neon painting and put on shows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-moroder/i-had-an-idea-for-a-technologically-advanced-luxury-watch-i-got/) [Giorgio Moroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-moroder/) > [I think I'm a guy who can get into the paint, make plays and obviously distribute and make plays for other guys, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-huerter/i-think-i-m-a-guy-who-can-get-into-the-paint-make-plays-and-obviously/) [Kevin Huerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-huerter/) > [“Love them all," said Renoir. "That is the secret, young man. Love them all." The painter let go of his arm and shrugged. "Then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/love-them-all-said-renoir-that-is-the-secret-young-man-love-them-all/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [Poetry fettered, fetters the human race. Nations are destroyed or flourish in proportion as their poetry, painting, and music are destroyed or flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/poetry-fettered-fetters-the-human-race-nations-are-destroyed-or/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [“He unfixes the metal notch and slips his hand around the body of the bird. Feels its heat, its small heart beating. He stares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-schuyler/he-unfixes-the-metal-notch-and-slips-his-hand-around-the-body-of-the/) Nina Schuyler > [I love painting. I love writing. I love creating and being around people who are creating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lycett/i-love-painting-i-love-writing-i-love-creating-and-being-around/) [Joe Lycett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lycett/) > [“Your soul is your paintbrush, your world is your canvass, your life is your masterpiece.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/your-soul-is-your-paintbrush-your-world-is-your-canvass-your-life-is/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [There's nothing more special than intellect and labour that makes painting work. There's no magic there; it's information, and it's work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/there-s-nothing-more-special-than-intellect-and-labour-that-makes/) [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [I saw Frank Frazetta's art, and it seared on my memory. I love his paintings. They're so amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-momoa/i-saw-frank-frazetta-s-art-and-it-seared-on-my-memory-i-love-his/) [Jason Momoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-momoa/) > [I was too tired to think. I merely felt the town as a unique unreality. What was it? I knew -- the moon's picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-too-tired-to-think-i-merely-felt-the-town-as-a-unique-unreality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 8,069 Painting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I really do is make portraits of the soul.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jan Saudek" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-saudek/what-i-really-do-is-make-portraits-of-the-soul/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Painting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-saudek/what-i-really-do-is-make-portraits-of-the-soul/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/jan-saudek-62927_painting_what-i-really-do-is-make-portraits-of-th_2009041.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/jan-saudek-62927_painting_what-i-really-do-is-make-portraits-of-th_2009041.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/jan-saudek-62927_painting_what-i-really-do-is-make-portraits-of-th_2009041.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What I really do is make portraits of the soul.” — Jan Saudek", "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": "Jan Saudek", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-saudek/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What I really do is make...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-saudek/what-i-really-do-is-make-portraits-of-the-soul/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-saudek/what-i-really-do-is-make-portraits-of-the-soul/#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 } } ] } ```