Top 45 Henri Matisse Quotes

Derive happiness in oneself from a good day‘s work, from illuminating the fog that surrounds us.

In love, the one who runs away is the winner.

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.

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.

There are always flowers for those who want to see them.

I’m growing old, I delight in the past.

Work cures everything.

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.

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.

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.

I have been no more than a medium, as it were.

You study, you learn, but you guard the original naivete. It has to be within you, as desire for drink is within the drunkard or love is within the lover.

He who loves, flies, runs, and rejoices; he is free and nothing holds him back.

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.

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.

My curves are not crazy.

Jazz is rhythm and meaning.

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.

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.

Cutting into color reminds me of the sculptor‘s direct carving.

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.

I wouldn’t mind turning into a vermilion goldfish.

Drawing is like making an expressive gesture with the advantage of permanence.

Creativity takes courage.

With color one obtains an energy that seems to stem from witchcraft.

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.

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.

Impressionism is the newspaper of the soul.

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.

I have been no more than a medium, as it were.

Impressionism is the newspaper of the soul.

I don’t paint things. I only paint the difference between things.

I wouldn’t mind turning into a vermilion goldfish.

Work cures everything.

Drawing is like making an expressive gesture with the advantage of permanence.

I don’t paint things. I only paint the difference between things.

He who loves, flies, runs, and rejoices; he is free and nothing holds him back.

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.

In love, the one who runs away is the winner.

There are always flowers for those who want to see them.

I do not literally paint that table, but the emotion it produces upon me.

Cutting into color reminds me of the sculptor‘s direct carving.

Exactitude is not truth.

I’m growing old, I delight in the past.

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