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It is my dream to create an art which is filled with balance, purity and calmness, freed from a subject matter that is disconcerting or too attention-seeking. In my paintings, I wish to create a spiritual remedy, similar to a comfortable armchair which provides rest from physical expectation for the spiritually working, the businessman as well as the artist.
Henri Matisse
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote expresses a desire to create art that promotes balance and tranquility, serving as a refuge from the stresses of life.

Henri Matisse's quote reflects his aspiration to produce art that embodies a sense of serenity and purity. He emphasizes creating works that are free from overly complex subjects or distractions, aiming instead to provide viewers with a comforting experience that alleviates the pressures of daily life. Matisse compares his art to a 'comfortable armchair,' suggesting that his paintings should serve as a spiritual refuge for people from various walks of life, offering a space for relaxation and contemplation.

Themes

ArtBalancePurityCalmnessSpirituality

In practice

Example use cases

During an art exhibition, I shared Matisse's quote to inspire conversations about the healing power of art.

More from Henri Matisse

I've been forty years discovering that the queen of all colors is black.
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Whoever wishes to devote himself to painting should begin by cutting out his own tongue
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Purer colors... have in themselves, independently of the objects they serve to express, a significant action on the feelings of those who look at them.
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It is not enough to place colors, however beautiful, one beside the other; colors must also react on one another. Otherwise, you have cacophony.
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Color, even more than drawing, is a means of liberation.
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Don't try to be original. Be simple. Be good technically, and if there is something in you, it will come out.
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