Hans Hofmann Reality Quotations

Art is magic... But how is it magic? In its metaphysical development? Or does some final transformation culminate in a magic reality? In truth, the latter is impossible without the former. If creation is not magic, the outcome cannot be magic.

The plastic artist may or may not be concerned with presenting a superficial appearance of reality, but he is always concerned with the presentation - if not the representation - of the plastic values of reality.

There is in reality no such thing as modern art. Art is carried on up and down in immense cycles through centuries and civilizations.

Nature's purpose in relation to the visual arts is to provide stimulus not imitation. ... From its ceaseless urge to create springs all Life all movement and rhythm time and light, color and mood in short, all reality in Form and Thought.

And so artistic creation is the metamorphosis of the external physical aspects of a thing into a self-sustaining spiritual reality .