Henri Matisse Quotes
A French artist, known for his use of color and his fluid and original draughtsmanship.
(1869 - 1954)
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A picture must possess a real power to generate light and for a long time now I've been conscious of expressing myself through light or rather in light.
[Art]
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A work should contain its total meaning within itself and should impress it on the spectator before he even knows the subject.
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A young woman has young claws, well sharpened. If she has character, that is. And if she hasn't so much the worse for you.
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An artist must never be a prisoner. Prisoner? An artist should never be a prisoner of himself, prisoner of style, prisoner of reputation, prisoner of success, etc.
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An artist must possess Nature. He must identify himself with her rhythm, by efforts that will prepare the mastery which will later enable him to express himself in his own language.
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Cutting into color reminds me of the sculptor's direct carving.
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Derive happiness in oneself from a good day's work, from illuminating the fog that surrounds us.
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Drawing is like making an expressive gesture with the advantage of permanence.
[Art]
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He who loves, flies, runs, and rejoices; he is free and nothing holds him back.
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I do not literally paint that table, but the emotion it produces upon me.
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I don't know whether I believe in God or not. I think, really, I'm some sort of Buddhist. But the essential thing is to put oneself in a frame of mind which is close to that of prayer.
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I don't paint things. I only paint the difference between things.
[Art]
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I have always tried to hide my efforts and wished my works to have a light joyousness of springtime which never lets anyone suspect the labors it has cost me.
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I have been no more than a medium, as it were.
[Art]
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I would like to recapture that freshness of vision which is characteristic of extreme youth when all the world is new to it.
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I wouldn't mind turning into a vermilion goldfish.
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I'm growing old, I delight in the past.
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Impressionism is the newspaper of the soul.
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