Aaron Siskind Quotes was an American photographer whose pioneering work in abstract photography transformed the medium, blending documentary roots with Abstract Expressionist influences. Born in New York City, Siskind began as a social documentary photographer with the New York Photo League, capturing the Harlem Document (1932–1940). His later abstract images of walls, textures, and found objects, exhibited at MoMA and the Art Institute of Chicago, emphasized emotion and form. A teacher at the Rhode Island School of Design, he influenced generations of artists.
These 15 quotes—sourced from his writings, interviews, and publications—reflect his insights on photography’s emotional depth, the creative process, and seeing beyond the surface, capturing his visionary, introspective spirit.
15 Aaron Siskind Quotes
- “Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “We look at the world and see what we have learned to believe is there. We have been conditioned to expect… but, as photographers, we must learn to relax our beliefs.” (Goodreads, n.d.)
- “In any art, you don’t know in advance what you want to say—it’s revealed to you as you say it. That’s the difference between art and illustration.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “If you look very intensely and slowly, things will happen that you never dreamed of before.” (Goodreads, n.d.)
- “Almost inevitably there are tensions in the picture, tensions between the outside world and the inside world. For me, a successful picture resolves these tensions without eliminating them.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “The inner drama is the meaning of the exterior event.” (Goodreads, n.d.)
- “As the language or vocabulary of photography has been extended, the emphasis of meaning has shifted, shifted from what the world looks like to what we feel about the world and what we want the world to mean.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “To me documentary photography means making a picture so that the viewer doesn’t think about the man who made the picture.” (PhotoQuotes.com, n.d.)
- “When I make a photograph, I want it to be an altogether new object, complete and self-contained, whose basic condition is order.” (PhotoQuotes.com, n.d.)
- “The only nature I’m interested in is my own nature.” (PhotoQuotes.com, n.d.)
- “There are two forces operating in my work: pleasure and terror.” (PhotoQuotes.com, n.d.)
- “The business of making a photograph may be said in simple terms to consist of three elements: the objective world, the sheet of paper on which the picture will be realized, and the experience which brings them together.” (John Paul Caponigro, 2014)
- “I was given a small camera as a wedding gift from a very dear friend. My first pictures were taken on my honeymoon. As soon as I became familiar with the camera, I was intrigued with the possibilities of expression it offered.” (John Paul Caponigro, 2014)
- “It is no longer a matter of expressing reality, but of expressing what one feels about reality.” (PhotoQuotes.com, n.d.)
- “However, I must stress that my own interest is immediate and in the picture. What I am conscious of and what I feel is the picture I am making.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
Aaron Siskind’s quotes shimmer with poetic insight, a deep reverence for photography’s emotional power, and a call to see the world anew, inspiring us to capture moments with feeling, embrace creative discovery, and find meaning in the abstract. His work and words, celebrated in posts found on X for their timeless resonance, urge us to look intensely and create boldly. Which quote sparks your passion for seeing or creating? Share it in the comments and keep Siskind’s visionary legacy thriving
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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