Many people are enamoured with technique when looking at a painting, especially when it is an exact copy of a photograph, i.e. photorealism. But really, what is the point of doing exact copies of something a photograph does really well already. As far as I can see none. A painting is special in that it can speak immediately to your heart or gut and you can either love it or hate it, both valid reactions. But something that you can say only intellectually that is well rendered...well it is simply boring and says nothing. Francis Bacon said that the purpose of art is to portray mystery. I agree. A painting needs to make you feel and see something that is intriguing, makes you want to think about it, be disturbed. And also be beautifully done, even if it is only a few strokes on a canvas. Paintings that say it all, including upholstery patterns just don't leave room for your mind to become ignited, to evoke contemplation. Giving birth to contemplation is the real purpose of a painting. Contemplation is not conceptualization.
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