Those who work in a preconceived style, deliberately turning their backs on nature, miss the truth. An artist must recognize, when he is reasoning, that his picture is an artifice; but when he is painting, he should feel that he…

Quote by Henri Matisse

Topics: Art Quotes, Nature Quotes, Painting Quotes

Impressionism is the newspaper of the soul.

Impressionism is the newspaper of the soul.

I would like to recapture that freshness of vision which is characteristic of extreme youth...

I would like to recapture that freshness of vision which is characteristic of extreme youth...

There are always flowers for those who want to see them.

There are always flowers for those who want to see them.

The best way to kill time is to work it to death

The best way to kill time is to work it to death

Truly, I'm not joking when I thank my lucky stars for the awful operation I...

Truly, I'm not joking when I thank my lucky stars for the awful operation I...

Jazz is rhythm and meaning.

Jazz is rhythm and meaning.

There are always flowers for those who want to see them.

There are always flowers for those who want to see them.

A picture must possess a real power to generate light and for a long time...

A picture must possess a real power to generate light and for a long time...

I do not literally paint that table, but the emotion it produces upon me.

I do not literally paint that table, but the emotion it produces upon me.

I'm growing old, I delight in the past.

I'm growing old, I delight in the past.

I don't know whether I believe in God or not. I think, really, I'm some...

I don't know whether I believe in God or not. I think, really, I'm some...

In the beginning you must subject yourself to the influence of nature. You must be...

In the beginning you must subject yourself to the influence of nature. You must be...

I don't paint things. I only paint the difference between things.

I don't paint things. I only paint the difference between things.

You study, you learn, but you guard the original naivete. It has to be within...

You study, you learn, but you guard the original naivete. It has to be within...

I did my sculpture as a painter. I did not work as a sculptor.

I did my sculpture as a painter. I did not work as a sculptor.

Drawing is like making an expressive gesture with the advantage of permanence.

Drawing is like making an expressive gesture with the advantage of permanence.

Instinct must be thwarted just as one prunes the branches of a tree so that...

Instinct must be thwarted just as one prunes the branches of a tree so that...

There can be no doubt that the average man blames much more than he praises....

There can be no doubt that the average man blames much more than he praises....

Well-bred instinct meets reason halfway

Well-bred instinct meets reason halfway

Very little of the great cruelty shown by men can really be attributed to cruel...

Very little of the great cruelty shown by men can really be attributed to cruel...