In actuality, we don't look for smiles in pictures of bliss, but rather, for the happiness in life itself. Painters know this, but this is preciously what they cannot depict. That's why they substitute the joy of seeing for the joy of life.
In Orhan Pamuk's book "My Name Is Red," the distinction between captured smiles in art and genuine happiness in life is explored. The idea is that while artists aim to create imagery that evokes joy, they often struggle to convey the profound essence of life's happiness. Instead of replicating true joy, painters translate their perceptions into visual experiences that can be appreciated aesthetically. This implies that the essence of happiness may be too complex to fully replicate in artistic forms.
The author reflects on the limitations of art in expressing the full spectrum of human emotion. Art can evoke feelings and beauty, yet it often falls short of depicting the true experiences of life itself. The joy felt in living moment-to-moment is an elusive quality that can't be bottled up in images or painted on canvas. Thus, the joy of seeing becomes a substitute for the deeper joy of existence that lies beyond the frame of artwork.