Henri Matisse citations célèbres
Régine Pernoud
Henri Matisse: Citations en anglais
In a letter to Mr. Clifford, February 14, 1948; as quoted in Letters of the great artists – from Ghiberti to Gainsborough, Richard Friedenthal, Thames and Hudson , London, 1963, p. 238
1940s
As quoted by Theodore F. Wolff in The Christian Science Monitor (25 March 1985)
Posthumous quotes
“[I wouldn't mind turning into] a vermilion goldfish.”
At age 80, as quoted in Matisse (1984) by Pierre Schneider
Posthumous quotes
In a letter to Mr. Clifford, February 14, 1948; as quoted in Letters of the great artists – from Ghiberti to Gainsborough, Richard Friedenthal, Thames and Hudson, London, 1963, pp. 238-239
1940s
critical quote on Cubism
In a short text of Matisse, 1918, written for the catalogue of 'Den Franske Utstilling', 1918, Copenhagen; as quoted in Matisse on Art, Jack Flam, University of California Press 1995 p. 272, note 2
1910 - 1920
Source: 1905 - 1910, Notes d'un Peintre' (Notes of a Painter) (1908), p. 411
original version in French: Je vous répéterai ce que je disais naguère à Guillaume Apollinaire: "Je n'ai, pour ma part, jamais évité l'influence des autres, j'aurais considéré cela comme une lâcheté et un manque de sincérité vis-à-vis de moi-même."
'Interview with Henri Matisse' by Jacques Guenne, in 'L'Art Vivant' (15 September 1925)
1920s
In a letter to Camoin, Autumn 1914; as quoted in Matisse on Art, Jack Flam, University of California Press 1995 p. 275, note 5
1910s
“I simply put down colours which render my sensation.”
1905 - 1910, Notes of a Painter' (1908)
1905 - 1910, Notes of a Painter' (1908)
Si je crois en Dieu? Oui, quand je travaille. Quand je suis soumis et modeste, je me sens tellement aidé par quelqu'un qui me fait faire des choses qui me surpassent. Pourtant je ne me sens envers lui aucune reconnaissance car c'est comme si je me trouvais devant un prestidigitateur dont je ne puis percer les tours.
1940s, Jazz (1947)
Source: 1905 - 1910, Notes d'un Peintre' (Notes of a Painter) (1908), p. 412
Source: 1900s, Notes d'un Peintre (Notes of a Painter) (1908), pp. 409-410
Source: 1900s, Notes d'un Peintre (Notes of a Painter) (1908), p. 410
Interview with Clara T. MacChesney (1912), in Matisse on Art (1995) edited by Jack D. Flam, p. 66
1910s
Source: 1900s, Notes d'un Peintre (Notes of a Painter) (1908), p. 412
As quoted in Matisse (1984) by Pierre Schneider
posthumous quotes
“Drawing with scissors: To cut to the quick in color reminds me of the direct cutting of sculptors.”
Dessiner avec les ciseaux: découper à vif dans la couleur me rappelle la taille directe des sculpteurs.
1940s, Jazz (1947)
As quoted in Abstract Painting, Michel Seuphor, Dell Publishing Co., 1964, p. 9
Posthumous quotes
In a letter to Camoin, Autumn 1914; as quoted in Matisse on Art, Jack Flam, University of California Press 1995 p. 275, note 5
1910s
“Drawing is like making an expressive gesture with the advantage of permanence.”
As quoted by in the review of 'The Drawings of Henri Matisse', exhibit at Manhattan's Museum of Modern Art, by Theodore F Wolff in The Christian Science Monitor (25 March 1985)
Posthumous quotes
1905 - 1910, Notes of a Painter' (1908)
La verticale est dans mon esprit. Elle m'aide à préciser la direction des lignes, et dans mes dessins rapides je n'indique pas une courbe, par exemple, celle d'une branche dans un paysage, sans avoir conscience de son rapport avec la verticale.
Mes courbes ne sont pas folles.
1940s, Jazz (1947)
Source: 1900s, Notes d'un Peintre (Notes of a Painter) (1908), p. 412
Source: 1900s, Notes d'un Peintre (Notes of a Painter) (1908), p. 413
1905 - 1910, Notes of a Painter' (1908)
Source: 1900s, Notes d'un Peintre (Notes of a Painter) (1908), p. 411
As quoted by Theodore F. Wolff in The Christian Science Monitor (25 March 1985)
Posthumous quotes
Source: 1900s, Notes d'un Peintre (Notes of a Painter) (1908), p. 410
1905 - 1910, Notes of a Painter' (1908)
