# Canny Resemblance **Opening (not a real abstract):** Depiction is the form of representation that distinguishes figurative from abstract paintings. Both abstract and figurative paintings can represent: a slash of red paint may symbolize lust, and a painting of a lamb may symbolize Christ. However, all and only figurative representations depict. I will use the term ‘picture’ to refer exclusively to figurative representations. A picture may symbolize Christ in virtue of depicting a lamb. The scope of this essay is limited to depiction and to pictures. Accounts of depiction attempt to specify the relation between picture and object in virtue of which the former depicts the latter. Resemblance accounts hold that the notion of resemblance is necessary to the specification of this relation. While various resemblance accounts have been proposed, each has significant limitations, leading to growing skepticism about the possibility of providing an adequate resemblance account of depiction. For example, Dominic Lopes (2006, 26) **Authors:** [[Abell 2009]]