Artist Quote by Philip Pearlstein
“I decided that expressionism was a cheap way of getting a reaction - show anybody ripped apart, and you get sympathy. I was deliberately trying to show the human body as whole and relatively healthy.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Art Discussion, Philip Pearlstein, 2005
Expressionism is used as a cheap shortcut to provoke emotion, while the artist aims to portray the human body as whole and healthy.
In simple terms: Expressionism seeks cheap shock; artist wants holistic health.
Avoid relying on shock; aim for authentic representation.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- gallery exhibition
- art education
- personal health
- public perception
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does shock affect perception of art?
- What does a healthy body represent in art?
Shock may not convey deeper truth.