Ever since there have been men, man has given himself over to too little joy. That alone, my brothers, is our original sin. I should believe only in a God who understood how to dance. Henri Matisse More Quotes by Henri Matisse More Quotes From Henri Matisse I shan't get free of my emotion by copying the tree faithfully, or by drawing its leaves one by one in the common language, but only after identifying myself with it. Henri Matisse copying drawing tree The artist begins with a vision - a creative operation requiring an effort. Henri Matisse effort creative artist If my story were ever to be written truthfully from start to finish, it would amaze everyone. Henri Matisse written ifs stories Fit the parts together, one into the other, and build your figure like a carpenter builds a house. Everything must be constructed, composed of parts that make a whole. Henri Matisse fit together house I have simply wished to assert the reasoned and independent feeling of my own individuality within a total knowledge of tradition. Henri Matisse individuality independent feelings Hatred, rancor, and the spirit of vengeance are useless baggage to the artist. His road is difficult enough for him to cleanse his soul of everything which could make it more so. Henri Matisse hatred artist soul From the first shock of the contemplation of a face depends the principal sensation which guides me throughout the entire execution of a portrait. Henri Matisse portraits faces firsts Never ruin a good painting with the truth. Henri Matisse ruins painting I dream of an art of balance, of quietness, something analogous to a good armchair. Henri Matisse balance dream art An artist who wants to transpose a composition onto a larger canvas must conceive it over again in order to preserve its expression; he must alter its character and not just fill in the squares into which he has divided his canvas. Henri Matisse squares artist character The truly original artist invents his own signs. Henri Matisse originals artist I do not repudiate any of my paintings but there isn't one of them that I would not redo differently, if I had it to redo. My destination is always the same but I work out a different route to get there. Henri Matisse painting work-out different The chief function of color should be to serve expression as well as possible. Henri Matisse color expression should There are wonderful things in Jazz, the improvisation, the liveliness, the being at one with the audience. Henri Matisse jazz music wonderful In art, truth and reality begin when one no longer understands what one is doing or what one knows, and when there remains an energy that is all the stronger for being constrained, controlled and compressed. Henri Matisse passion reality art What matters most to me? To work with my model until I have it enough in me to be able to improvise, to let my hand run free. Henri Matisse what-matters running hands Cutting into color reminds me of the sculptor's direct carving. Henri Matisse sculptor me carving color
