Hands Quote by Robert Mapplethorpe
“I never liked photography. Not for the sake of photography. I like the object. I like the photographs when you hold them in your hand.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 1995, The New York Times
He values the tactile, object‑centered experience of photographs over the medium itself.
In simple terms: He loves holding photos, not photography.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate the physicality of images.
Themes
art
perception
materiality
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
artistic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- gallery visits
- personal photo collections
- hand‑held prints
Key Concepts
Aesthetic experience
object focus
Questions to Reflect On
- How does holding a photo change its impact?
- What does the object convey that the image alone does not?
A Different Perspective
May overlook the expressive power of the photographic process.
![“My aim is increasingly to make my photographs look so much like photographs [rather than paintings, etchings, etc.] that unless one has eyes and sees, they won't be seen - and still everyone will never forget having once looked at them.” quote by Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/530/alfred-stieglitz-13773_aim_my-aim-is-increasingly-to-make-my-photog_822023.jpg)
