What kind of paintings do you like the most: landscapes, figurative, abstract, or any other?

Question:

Answer: Figurative. As Matisse said, a painting is not a representation (that's for photographers) - it's a re-presentation. An insight into the familiar that we haven't seen that way before. That said, no figurative painting can present reality - only an image of it. So every figurative painting is a kind of cipher or symbol; and underlying every good painting there is an abstract, the "bones" supporting composition, movement, etc. Much modern "abstract" seems to me merely an avoidance of real observation - but great abstract reflects great observation. However, I feel a painting should always have the sense of direction communication, and if we see "echoes" of familiar forms etc they (along with the brushwork) humanise the work. As for subject? Anything, everything - a landscape is a portrait; a portrait is a still life. Everything, obvserved is fascinating.

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