What may lead a painter to become interested in the painting of another painter from the past? How does it work, that use and abuse? What does reveal a painting? To analyse master works from the past consists essentially in evidencing the mechanisms of creativity and revealing the means which were used. One can not create an original form without opening oneself to the forms of the past. When Harold Bloom says that Shakespeare reads in a more thoroughly manner than it can ever be read, he makes one wonder if - like wise - a painter does not see in a more thoroughly manner than it can ever be seen. Innovative artists are deeply linked to tradition and practice a lesson of painting by the painting itself. The variations or artistic recreations are an intimate dialogue with the work, they are the revelation of an enigma and an art history made by the painters.
Creativity; Variation; Appropriation
