I have been no more than a medium, as it were. 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 copyingdrawingtree The artist begins with a vision - a creative operation requiring an effort. Henri Matisse effortcreativeartist If my story were ever to be written truthfully from start to finish, it would amaze everyone. Henri Matisse writtenifsstories 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 fittogetherhouse I have simply wished to assert the reasoned and independent feeling of my own individuality within a total knowledge of tradition. Henri Matisse individualityindependentfeelings 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 hatredartistsoul 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 portraitsfacesfirsts Never ruin a good painting with the truth. Henri Matisse ruinspainting I dream of an art of balance, of quietness, something analogous to a good armchair. Henri Matisse balancedreamart 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 squaresartistcharacter The truly original artist invents his own signs. Henri Matisse originalsartist 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 paintingwork-outdifferent The chief function of color should be to serve expression as well as possible. Henri Matisse colorexpressionshould There are wonderful things in Jazz, the improvisation, the liveliness, the being at one with the audience. Henri Matisse jazzmusicwonderful 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 passionrealityart 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-mattersrunninghands Cutting into color reminds me of the sculptor's direct carving. Henri Matisse sculptormecarvingcolor
