Henri Matisse Famous Quotes About Art, Artists, And Creativity

Henri Matisse Famous Quotes About Art, Artists, And Creativity

Henri Matisse (31 December 1869 - 3 November 1954) was a French artist, known for his utilization of shading and his liquid and unique craftsmanship. He was a sketcher, printmaker, and stone worker, however, he is referred to principally as a painter.

Henri Matisse Famous Quotations include:

  • Quotes About Art
  • Quotes About Artist
  • Quotes About Creativity
  • Quotes About Life

    Henri Matisse Quotes About Art

    “Time extracts various values from a painter's work. When these values are exhausted the pictures are forgotten, and the more a picture has to give, the greater it is.” ― Henri Matisse

    “A thimbleful of red is redder than a bucketful.” ― Henri Matisse

    “Impressionism is the newspaper of the soul.” ― Henri Matisse

    “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

    “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

    “Whoever wishes to devote himself to painting should begin by cutting out his own tongue.” ― Henri Matisse

    “From the moment I held the box of colors in my hands, I knew this was my life. I threw myself into it like a beast that plunges towards the thing it loves.” ― Henri Matisse

    “From the moment I held the box of colors in my hands, I knew this was my life. I threw myself into it like a beast that plunges towards the thing it loves.” ― Henri Matisse

    “With color one obtains an energy that seems to stem from witchcraft.” ― Henri Matisse

    "When I put a green, it it not grass. When I put a blue, it is not the sky.” ― Henri Matisse

    "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.” ― Henri Matisse

    "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.” ― Henri Matisse

    "Drawing is like making an expressive gesture with the advantage of permanence. ” ― Henri Matisse

    "What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter - a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue. ” ― Henri Matisse

    "What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter - a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue. ” ― Henri Matisse

    "I do not literally paint that table, but the emotion it produces upon me.” ― Henri Matisse

    "I do not literally paint that table, but the emotion it produces upon me.” ― Henri Matisse

    "I don't paint things. I only paint the difference between things.” ― Henri Matisse

    "In modern art, it is undoubtedly to Cézanne that I owe the most.” ― Henri Matisse

    "Cutting into color reminds me of the sculptor's direct carving.” ― Henri Matisse

    Egon Schiele Quotes

     

    Woman with a Hat by Henri Matisse

    Woman with a Hat by Henri Matisse

     

    Henri Matisse Quotes About Artist

    “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

    “I do not distinguish between the construction of a book and that of a painting and I always proceed from the simple to the complex." ― Henri Matisse

    “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

    “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

    “It has bothered me all my life that I do not paint like everybody else.” ― Henri Matisse

    “Derive happiness in oneself from a good day’s work, from illumination to the fog that surrounds.” ― Henri Matisse

    “Derive happiness in oneself from a good day’s work, from illumination to the fog that surrounds.” ― Henri Matisse

    “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” ― Henri Matisse

    “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” ― Henri Matisse

    “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.” ― Henri Matisse

    “You must forget all your theories, all your ideas before the subject. What part of these is really your own will be expressed in your expression of the emotion awakened in you by the subject.” ― Henri Matisse

    “You must forget all your theories, all your ideas before the subject. What part of these is really your own will be expressed in your expression of the emotion awakened in you by the subject.” ― Henri Matisse

    “There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted.” ― 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

    "I would like to recapture that freshness of vision which is characteristic of extreme youth when all the world is new to it.” ― Henri Matisse

    "I would like to recapture that freshness of vision which is characteristic of extreme youth when all the world is new to it.” ― Henri Matisse

    "What interests me most is neither still life nor landscape: it is the human figure.” ― Henri Matisse

    "What interests me most is neither still life nor landscape: it is the human figure.” ― Henri Matisse

    Mary Cassatt Famous Quotes

     

    The Open Window by Henri Matisse

    The Open Window by Henri Matisse

     

    Henri Matisse Quotes About Creativity

    “I am made of all that I have seen.” ― Henri Matisse

    “Creativity takes courage.” ― Henri Matisse

    “Creativity takes courage.” ― Henri Matisse

    “Don't wait for inspiration. It comes while working.” ― Henri Matisse

    “Don't wait for inspiration. It comes while working.” ― Henri Matisse

    “Exactitude is not the truth.” ― Henri Matisse

    “Exactitude is not the truth.” ― Henri Matisse

    “You study, you learn, but you guard the original naïveté. It has to be within you, as the desire for drink is within the drunkard or love is within the lover.” ― Henri Matisse

    “Nothing can be accomplished without love. ” ― Henri Matisse

    “Nothing can be accomplished without love. ” ― Henri Matisse

    “Another word for creativity is courage.” ― Henri Matisse

    “To look at something as though we had never seen it before requires great courage.” ― Henri Matisse

    “To look at something as though we had never seen it before requires great courage.” ― Henri Matisse

    “There are always flowers for those who want to see them.” ― Henri Matisse

    “There are always flowers for those who want to see them.” ― Henri Matisse

    “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.” ― Henri Matisse

    “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.” ― Henri Matisse

    “In the beginning you must subject yourself to the influence of nature. You must be able to walk firmly on the ground before you start walking on a tightrope.” ― Henri Matisse

    “Work cures everything.” ― Henri Matisse

    “Work cures everything.” ― Henri Matisse

    “It is not enough to place colors, however beautiful, one beside the other; colors must also react on one another. Otherwise, you have cacophony.” ― Henri Matisse

    “Expression, for me, does not reside in passions glowing in a human face or manifested by violent movement. The entire arrangement of my picture is expressive; the place occupied by the figures, the empty spaces around them, the proportions, everything has its share.” ― Henri Matisse

    Pierre Auguste Renoir Famous Quotes

     

    Dance by Henri Matisse

    Dance by Henri Matisse

     

    Henri Matisse Quotes About Life

    “This is why journeys are useful, they enlarge the space that is around us.” ― Henri Matisse

    “Instinct must be thwarted just as one prunes the branches of a tree so that it will grow better.” ― Henri Matisse

    “I didn't expect to recover from my second operation but since I did, I consider that I'm living on borrowed time. Every day that dawns is a gift to me and I take it in that way. I accept it gratefully without looking beyond it. I completely forget my physical suffering and all the unpleasantness of my present condition and I think only of the joy of seeing the sun rise once more and of being able to work a little bit, even under difficult conditions.” ― Henri Matisse

    “When you're out of willpower, you can call on stubbornness.” ― Henri Matisse

    “When you're out of willpower, you can call on stubbornness.” ― Henri Matisse

    “I desire pleasure. I am not a revolutionary by principle. I was educated in an entirely different manner.” ― Henri Matisse

    “I don't know whether I believe in God or not. I think, really, I'm some kind of a Buddhist. But the essential thing is to put oneself in a frame of mind which is close to that of prayer.” ― Henri Matisse

    “My mother liked everything I did. It is from her affection for her that I always drew what theory failed to offer me per finish the painting.” ― Henri Matisse

    “I wouldn't mind turning into a vermilion goldfish.” ― Henri Matisse

    “...for whether we want to or not, we belong to our time and we share in its opinions, its feelings, even its delusions.” ― Henri Matisse

    “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.” ― Henri Matisse

    “We ought to view ourselves with the same curiosity and openness with which we study a tree, the sky or a thought, because we too are linked to the entire universe.” ― Henri Matisse

    “In love, the one who runs away is the winner.” ― Henri Matisse

    “Why have I never been bored? For more than fifty years I have never ceased to work.” ― Henri Matisse

    “Why have I never been bored? For more than fifty years I have never ceased to work.” ― Henri Matisse

    “If my story were ever to be written truthfully from start to finish, it would amaze everyone.” ― Henri Matisse

    “If my story were ever to be written truthfully from start to finish, it would amaze everyone.” ― Henri Matisse

    Rene Magritte Famous Quotes

     

    The Joy of Life by Henri Matisse

    The Joy of Life by Henri Matisse

    Famous Paintings by Henri Matisse

     

    Check out these Famous Artists who have shaped the art world!

    If you like this article, please share it with others, so perhaps they can also enjoy it and get value from it. Any of the artwork purchased on ATX Fine Arts accommodates me as an artist/ writer along with helping the site grow organically, thank you.

    Back to blog

    Leave a comment

    Sell Your Art Masterfully And Maximize Your Art Sales