I've been forty years discovering that the queen of all colors is black.
Henri MatisseRead
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.
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
All quotes →Whoever wishes to devote himself to painting should begin by cutting out his own tongue
Henri MatisseRead
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.
Henri MatisseRead
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 MatisseRead
Color, even more than drawing, is a means of liberation.
Henri MatisseRead
Don't try to be original. Be simple. Be good technically, and if there is something in you, it will come out.
Henri MatisseRead
Similar quotes
As a man I am flawed, but my music is perfect.
Kanye WestRead
Tina Turner is someone that I admire, because she made her strength feminine and sexy. Marilyn Monroe, because she was a curvy woman. I'm drawn to things that have the same kind of silhouettes as what she wore because our bodies are similar.
Beyonce KnowlesRead
Publishing is a very mysterious business. It is hard to predict what kind of sale or reception a book will have, and advertising seems to do very little good.
Thomas WolfeRead
Give me such shows - give me the streets of Manhattan!
Walt WhitmanRead
A few years back I was asked if I would go and meet a director and his various acolytes, and it occurred to me halfway through the meeting that what I was doing was auditioning. And I thought, 'Well, hang on buddy. I've done half a century of this.'
Peter O'TooleRead
Bad artists copy. Good artists steal.
Pablo PicassoRead