I shut my eyes in order to see. — Paul Gauguin
—What lingers after this line?
The Paradox of Perception
Paul Gauguin’s enigmatic statement, 'I shut my eyes in order to see,' challenges our basic assumptions about sight and awareness. At first glance, vision is associated purely with the physical act of looking, but Gauguin implies a deeper form of seeing—one not reliant on the eyes. This paradox prompts us to ask: Could limiting external input actually enhance our understanding or creativity? The simple act of closing one’s eyes, in this sense, becomes an invitation to journey inward, beyond the surface.
Imagination Over Sensory Reality
Building on this idea, Gauguin’s practice as a painter involved more than just copying reality; he sought to evoke emotional truths independent of what the eyes registered. Much like William Blake’s claim that imagination is 'the real and eternal world,' Gauguin advocated for an inward gaze, drawing from dreams and memories. For artists, such introspection can illuminate visions that the outer world conceals, resulting in original works that transcend mere imitation.
Inspiration From Symbolism and Spirituality
Gauguin was closely associated with Symbolist movements that prioritized subjective experience and spiritual revelation. By shutting his eyes, he symbolically rejected mundane appearances for a higher, often mystical reality. This approach aligns with meditative practices found in Buddhism and indigenous traditions, both of which influenced Gauguin during his years in Tahiti. The closing of eyes becomes less an act of blindness and more a search for spiritual clarity and inner truth.
Historical and Artistic Echoes
This inward turn is echoed by other artists and thinkers throughout history. For instance, Plato’s Allegory of the Cave proposes that true knowledge arises not through the senses but through inner reflection. Later, abstract painters like Wassily Kandinsky believed that ‘seeing’ required tuning out worldly distractions, using the closed eye as a metaphor for visionary art. Thus, Gauguin’s words fit into a longstanding tradition where insight requires a retreat from the visible.
Modern Relevance: Creativity and Mindfulness
Today, Gauguin’s insight finds new resonance in fields such as mindfulness and creative thinking. Writers, designers, and innovators often close their eyes to visualize goals, solve problems, or reduce distractions—a technique supported by cognitive science. This practice enables deeper concentration and taps latent creativity, demonstrating that shutting the eyes is not an act of avoidance but of active, imaginative seeing. Gauguin’s legacy endures, reminding us that some visions emerge only when we dare to look inward.
One-minute reflection
What feeling does this quote bring up for you?
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