Meaning: The quote by William Scott reflects a significant shift in the approach to art and the understanding of painting as a medium. It highlights a departure from traditional representational art, where a painting is expected to depict a specific subject or tell a particular story. Instead, Scott emphasizes the importance of the visual experience created by the interaction of color, form, and space on a two-dimensional surface.

William Scott was a prominent British artist known for his abstract and still-life paintings. Born in Scotland in 1913, Scott's work evolved over the years, and he became associated with the St. Ives School, a group of artists based in the coastal town of St. Ives in Cornwall, England. His artistic journey reflects a transition from figurative and representational art to a more abstract and expressive style.

The quote suggests that Scott, like many modern and contemporary artists, moved away from the idea that a painting should directly represent a specific object or scene. Instead, he focused on the inherent qualities of the painting itself, such as color, composition, and texture, and the way these elements come together to create an illusion of depth, space, and form on a flat surface.

This shift in focus aligns with broader movements in 20th-century art, such as abstract expressionism and minimalism, which sought to explore the fundamental nature of art and its ability to evoke emotions, sensations, and ideas without relying on recognizable imagery. By emphasizing the "expectation, from a flat surface, of an illusion," Scott underscores the transformative power of art to transport viewers beyond the physical constraints of the canvas and into a realm of sensory and perceptual experience.

In essence, Scott's statement challenges the viewer to engage with a painting on a purely visual and emotional level, free from the constraints of narrative or representation. It invites us to consider the ways in which a painting can captivate and engage us through its formal qualities and the sensations it evokes, rather than its adherence to depicting recognizable subject matter.

This approach opens up new possibilities for interpretation and connection with the artwork, as it allows the viewer to bring their own experiences, emotions, and associations to the act of seeing and engaging with the painting. It also emphasizes the autonomy of the painting as an object in its own right, separate from any external referent, and highlights the unique language of visual expression that transcends literal meaning.

In conclusion, William Scott's quote encapsulates a profound shift in the understanding of art and painting, emphasizing the power of visual illusion and the transformative potential of the flat surface as a site for evoking meaning and experience. It invites us to appreciate the intrinsic qualities of a painting and the ways in which it can communicate and resonate with us beyond the confines of representation or narrative. Scott's words continue to resonate as a testament to the enduring relevance of abstract and non-representational art in challenging and expanding our perceptions of the visual world.