A writer should write with his eyes and a painter paint with his ears

A writer should write with his eyes and a painter paint with his ears

Gertrude Stein, an American writer and art collector, was known for her experimental writing style and her close relationships with many prominent artists of her time. She was a central figure in the modernist movement and her work often blurred the lines between literature and visual art. Stein's famous quote, "A writer should write with his eyes and a painter paint with his ears," encapsulates her belief in the interconnectedness of different forms of artistic expression.

For Stein, writing was a visual art form that required careful observation and attention to detail. She believed that writers should use their eyes to capture the world around them, to see things as they truly are and to convey those observations through their words. Stein's own writing often focused on the visual aspects of language, using repetition and rhythm to create a sense of visual imagery on the page. She was known for her use of unconventional syntax and her rejection of traditional narrative structures, instead focusing on the visual and rhythmic qualities of language.

On the other hand, Stein believed that painters should approach their work with their ears, using their sense of sound and rhythm to guide their artistic decisions. She believed that painters should listen to the world around them, to the sounds of nature and of everyday life, and translate those auditory experiences into visual form. Stein's close relationships with artists such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse influenced her belief in the importance of sound in the visual arts. She often wrote about the musical qualities of painting, describing how color and form could create a sense of harmony and rhythm on the canvas.