Thomas Eakins Quotes
1844–1916 United States
Thomas Cowperthwait Eakins (25 July 1844 – 25 June 1916) was an American painter, sculptor, photographer and art instructor.
- United States
- Academics
- Agnostics
- Educators
- Painters
Also known as: Eakins, Thomas
Random Thomas Eakins quote
9 quotes
I have but little patience with the false modesty which is the greatest enemy to all figure painting.
I see no impropriety in looking at the most beautiful of Nature's works, the naked figure. If there is impropriety, then just where does such impropriety begin?
I have never discovered that the nude could be studied in any way except the way I have adopted. All the muscles must be pointed out. To do this all the drapery must be removed.
We appreciate politeness when we are far from home. We may have different ideas of the word.
A teacher can do very little for a pupil and should only be thankful if he don't hinder him, and the greater the master, mostly the less he can say.
Strain your brain more than your eye... You can copy a thing to a certain limit. Then you must use intellect.
Advice to his art students; quoted in Thomas Eakins: His Life and Work (1933)
As some of you know, I some years ago — a few — painted a picture of Mr. Whitman. I began in the usual way, but soon found that the ordinary methods wouldn't do — that technique, rules and traditions would have to be thrown aside; that before all else, he was to be treated as a man, whatever became of what are commonly called the principles of art.
In a big picture you can see what o'clock it is afternoon or morning if it's hot or cold winter or summer & what kind of people are there & what they are doing and why they are doing it. The sentiments run beyond words.
When a man paints a naked woman he gives her less than poor Nature did. I can conceive of few circumstances wherein I would have to paint a woman naked, but if I did I would not mutilate her for double the money. She is the most beautiful thing there is — except a naked man, but I never saw a study of one exhibited.