Another Black Dog

If we write ‘the dog is black’, well,.. the dog is black. This is clear, there isn’t much misunderstanding possible. However, if we decide to paint ‘the dog is black’, suddenly a lot of questions raise: how do we choose to represent the dog? in full ? which frame? will it be detailed or just a sketch? what breed of dog? Would it be black or more grey? with which attitude? seated or running ? happy? barking?.. And for each question, the artist will decide to paint according to his/her idea of what they want to express. 

This is why, nothing is neutral, there is no truth in paintings, nor in photography, or in any other visual art : only ambiguity.

Henry Horenstein, Domestic Great Dane (Silhouette), Canis lupus familiaris, 1995-2001