Mathematics is painting without the brush; painting is mathematics without the chalk

Although at a superficial level mathematics and painting may be perceived as of very different nature, they are profoundly similar at a deep conceptual and functional level. The similarity goes far beyond immediate relationships such as the fact that geometry plays a significant role in both disciplines. The deep and significant kinship between math and painting becomes evident, when one considers that both disciplines are concerned with a symbolic description of aspects of the surrounding world. Both painting and mathematics struggle to express, by abstraction, the general behind the specific and to establish the essential and relevant. Both disciplines try to digest and analyse notions such as open versus closed, or figurative versus non-figurative, or finite versus infinite. Both activities make use of conjectures and explorations. It is important, not least for the teaching of mathematics, to realise that mathematics is fundamentally a discipline that is profoundly similar to the arts, music and humanities and in particular to painting. Mathematics will then not be considered a unique or alien discipline, but can be approached with playfulness and experimentation along the traditions used in the teaching of art, where rigor and exploration goes hand in hand.