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 It is only after years of preparation that the young artist should touch color - not color used descriptively, that is, but as a means of personal expression. Henri Matisse artist expression mean If it is practiced by a man of taste, the photograph will have the appearance of art (but) the photographer must...intervene as little as possible, so as not to lose the objective charm which it naturally possesses. Henri Matisse photography men art I was very embarrassed when my canvases began to fetch high prices. I saw myself condemned to a future of nothing but Masterpieces. Henri Matisse fetch embarrassed saws What I am after, above all, is expression. Henri Matisse expression I'm growing old, I delight in the past. Henri Matisse delight growing past I wouldn't mind turning into a vermilion goldfish. Henri Matisse goldfish mind art Impressionism is the newspaper of the soul. Henri Matisse newspapers soul art Jazz is rhythm and meaning. Henri Matisse jazz music inspirational Drawing is like making an expressive gesture with the advantage of permanence. Henri Matisse expression funny art I am unable to make any distinction between the feeling I get from life and the way I translate that feeling into painting. Henri Matisse painting feelings way What I dream of is an art of balance. Henri Matisse balance dream art Drawing is . . . not an exercise of particular dexterity, but above all a means of expressing intimate feelings and moods. Henri Matisse drawing exercise mean I simply try to put down colors which render my sensation Henri Matisse complementary-colors color trying To draw is to make an idea precise. Drawing is the precision of thought. Henri Matisse precision drawing ideas The essential thing is to spring forth, to express the bolt of lightning one senses upon contact with a thing. The function of the artist is not to translate an observation but to express the shock of the object on his nature; the shock, with the original reaction. Henri Matisse lightning artist spring What interests me most is neither still life nor landscape, but the human figure. Henri Matisse landscape figures art I don't paint women, I paint pictures. . . What I am after above all is expression. If in a portrait I put eyes, a nose, a mouth, there isn't much use; on the contrary it paralyses the imagination of the spectator, and obliges us to see the person in a certain way. Henri Matisse eye imagination expression The importance of an artist is to be measured by the quantity of new signs which he has introduced to the language of art. Henri Matisse importance language art The role of the artist, like that of the scholar, consists of seizing current truths often repeated to him, but which will take on new meaning for him and which he will make his own when he has grasped their deepest significance. Henri Matisse currents roles artist Starting to paint, I felt gloriously free, quiet, and alone. Henri Matisse starting paint quiet
