Artist Quote by Louise Berliawsky Nevelson
“You take a painting, you have a white, virginal piece of canvas that is the world of purity, and then you put your imagery on it, and you try to bring it back to the original purity.”
About This Quote
Source Artist Statement: Sculpture, 1955
Canvas represents purity; adding imagery attempts to restore that original purity, reflecting a tension between creation and original state.
In simple terms: Creating on a pure base seeks to return to purity.
Respect the original canvas while adding meaning.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- painting
- design
- restoration
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “purity” mean in your work?
- How can you honor the original while innovating?
Over‑adding can erase the original essence.