Artist Quote by Wynn Bullock
“A thing is not what you say it is or what you photograph it to be or what you paint it to be or what you sculpt it to be. Words, photographs, paintings, and sculptures are symbols of what you see, think, and feel things to be, but they are not the things themselves.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: 1978 “The Nature of Photography” publication
Artistic media are representations, not the actual objects they depict.
In simple terms: Images are symbols, not the things themselves.
Key Takeaway
Remember the distinction between representation and reality.
Themes
art
perception
reality
Mood
analytical
contemplative
Type
philosophical
artistic
When to use this quote
- museum curation
- advertising design
- educational curricula
- media analysis
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
semiotics
visual culture
interpretation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you interpret visual symbols?
- When do you trust images?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on symbols can detach from tangible experience.
