--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a way, painting is like wine: it is as…" description: "\"In a way, painting is like wine: it is as old, as simple, as primitive and as varied. Like wine, it is a very specific means of expression, with a limi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/robert-motherwell-11726_artist_in-a-way-painting-is-like-wine-it-is-as_2385962.png" --- # In a way, painting is like wine: it is as old, as simple… ![“In a way, painting is like wine: it is as old, as simple, as primitive and as varied. Like wine, it is a very specific means of expression, with a limited vocabulary, but vast in its expressive potential.” quote by Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/robert-motherwell-11726_artist_in-a-way-painting-is-like-wine-it-is-as_2385962.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/robert-motherwell-11726_artist_in-a-way-painting-is-like-wine-it-is-as_2385962.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/robert-motherwell-11726_artist_in-a-way-painting-is-like-wine-it-is-as_2385962.png) > “In a way, painting is like wine: it is as old, as simple, as primitive and as varied. Like wine, it is a very specific means of expression, with a limited vocabulary, but vast in its expressive potential.” [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Painting, like wine, is ancient and simple yet diverse, offering a limited set of tools that can convey vast emotions. **In simple terms:** Art uses simple means for deep expression. Key Takeaway Explore expressive limits. Themes art wine analogy expression Mood contemplative appreciative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - painting - winemaking - visual storytelling - creative workshops Key Concepts minimalism creative constraints Questions to Reflect On - How do constraints foster creativity? - What parallels exist between tasting and seeing? A Different Perspective Limited vocabulary may restrict nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Expressive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expressive/) [Like Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-wine/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Painting Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting-like/) [Primitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primitive/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Vocabulary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocabulary/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-painting-3119123/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) [Wine Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine-old-1035948/) ## Related quotes > [In a very small way, painting addresses the 'Big Questions' to which we'll never find the answers. You do what you have to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-messer/in-a-very-small-way-painting-addresses-the-big-questions-to-which-we/) [Sam Messer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-messer/) > [I love the way painting is so full of illusionistic possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-stockholder/i-love-the-way-painting-is-so-full-of-illusionistic-possibilities/) [Jessica Stockholder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-stockholder/) > [I always wanted to do something creative, but as much as I'm creative, it's in a really hard-core, right-brained way. For me, painting doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-prince-ramus/i-always-wanted-to-do-something-creative-but-as-much-as-i-m-creative/) [Joshua Prince-Ramus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-prince-ramus/) > [Painting is a medium in which the mind can actualize itself; it is a medium of thought. Thus painting, like music, tends to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/painting-is-a-medium-in-which-the-mind-can-actualize-itself-it-is-a/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [Really, truly, try to figure out what your palate is all about. If you've determined that you don't like dirty old stinky wine -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/really-truly-try-to-figure-out-what-your-palate-is-all-about-if-you/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [I think the British have the distinction above all other nations of being able to put new wine into old bottles without bursting them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/i-think-the-british-have-the-distinction-above-all-other-nations-of/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [What find you better or more honourable than age? Take the preheminence of it in everything, in an old friend, in old wine, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shackerley-marmion/what-find-you-better-or-more-honourable-than-age-take-the/) [Shackerley Marmion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shackerley-marmion/) > [It is an age of stir and change, a season of new wine and old bottles. Yet, assuredly, in spite of breakages and waste,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galsworthy/it-is-an-age-of-stir-and-change-a-season-of-new-wine-and-old-bottles/) [John Galsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galsworthy/) > [“Marcus Aurelius had a version of this exercise where he’d describe glamorous or expensive things without their euphemisms—roasted meat is a dead animal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/marcus-aurelius-had-a-version-of-this-exercise-where-he-d-describe/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Do not be deceived by the outward appearance of age or youth - a new pitcher may be full of good, old wine, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judah-the-prince/do-not-be-deceived-by-the-outward-appearance-of-age-or-youth-a-new/) [Judah the Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judah-the-prince/) > [Old books, old wine, old Nankin blue;- All things, in short, to which belong The charm, the grace that Time makes strong, All these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-austin-dobson/old-books-old-wine-old-nankin-blue-all-things-in-short-to-which/) [Henry Austin Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-austin-dobson/) > [Perhaps we should never procure a new suit, however ragged or dirty the old, until we have so conducted or enterprised or sailed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/perhaps-we-should-never-procure-a-new-suit-however-ragged-or-dirty/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Don't put new wine into old bottles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/don-t-put-new-wine-into-old-bottles/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverb/) > [My wife and I really enjoy a glass of red wine. We're too old to drink cheap wine, and we don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-henderson/my-wife-and-i-really-enjoy-a-glass-of-red-wine-we-re-too-old-to-drink/) [Paul Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-henderson/) > [Old wine, and an old friend, are good provisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/old-wine-and-an-old-friend-are-good-provisions/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) ## More by Robert Motherwell > [It is true that every artist has his own religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/it-is-true-that-every-artist-has-his-own-religion/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [The main thing is not to be dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/the-main-thing-is-not-to-be-dead/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [I have been continuously aware that in painting, I am always dealing with... a relational structure. Which in turn makes permission 'to be abstract'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/i-have-been-continuously-aware-that-in-painting-i-am-always-dealing/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [I started with straight, basic, symbolic structures. My problem now is the opposite; as I get older, I try to make my paintings more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/i-started-with-straight-basic-symbolic-structures-my-problem-now-is/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [An odd contradiction, if the layman were correct in his unconscious assumption that an artist begins with reality and ends with art: the converse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/an-odd-contradiction-if-the-layman-were-correct-in-his-unconscious/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [Abstract expressionism was the first American art that was filled with anger as well as beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/abstract-expressionism-was-the-first-american-art-that-was-filled/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [A subject emerges from an interaction between my self, my I, and my medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/a-subject-emerges-from-an-interaction-between-my-self-my-i-and-my/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [A main part of the struggle of art has been to make an art that is direct, simple, humane, unconnected with powers that be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/a-main-part-of-the-struggle-of-art-has-been-to-make-an-art-that-is/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [Sometimes images may emerge from some chord in my subconscious, the way a dream might. Even in those paintings where an image unconsciously develops,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/sometimes-images-may-emerge-from-some-chord-in-my-subconscious-the/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [The public's appetite for famous people is a mouth as big as a mountain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/the-public-s-appetite-for-famous-people-is-a-mouth-as-big-as-a/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [Every picture one paints involves not painting others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/every-picture-one-paints-involves-not-painting-others/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [Art is an experience, not an object.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/art-is-an-experience-not-an-object/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [Art is much less important than life, but what a poor life without it. Robert Motherwell Every man becomes, to a certain degree, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/art-is-much-less-important-than-life-but-what-a-poor-life-without-it/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [The problems of inventing a new language are staggering. But what else can one do if one needs to express one's feeling precisely?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/the-problems-of-inventing-a-new-language-are-staggering-but-what-else/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [For twenty years I read a book a day, from the time I was seven until I was twenty-seven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/for-twenty-years-i-read-a-book-a-day-from-the-time-i-was-seven-until/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) [Explore all 58 Robert Motherwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) ## More Artist 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/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“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/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In a way, painting is like wine: it is as old, as simple, as primitive and as varied. Like wine, it is a very specific means of expression, with a limited vocabulary, but vast in its expressive potential.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Motherwell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/in-a-way-painting-is-like-wine-it-is-as-old-as-simple-as-primitive/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/in-a-way-painting-is-like-wine-it-is-as-old-as-simple-as-primitive/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/robert-motherwell-11726_artist_in-a-way-painting-is-like-wine-it-is-as_2385962.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/robert-motherwell-11726_artist_in-a-way-painting-is-like-wine-it-is-as_2385962.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/robert-motherwell-11726_artist_in-a-way-painting-is-like-wine-it-is-as_2385962.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In a way, painting is like wine: it is as old, as simple, as primitive and as varied. Like wine, it is a…” — Robert Motherwell", "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": "Robert Motherwell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In a way, painting is like...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/in-a-way-painting-is-like-wine-it-is-as-old-as-simple-as-primitive/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/in-a-way-painting-is-like-wine-it-is-as-old-as-simple-as-primitive/#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 } } ] } ```