“How do you make your pictures?
— I don’t know, it’s not important.”
Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908–2004) French photographer
Quote from an interview with w:Elaine de Kooning, 'Hans Hofmann paints a picture', 1950; in Artnews, February 1950, 38 (article 38-41 and 58-59)
1950s
“How do you make your pictures?
— I don’t know, it’s not important.”
Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908–2004) French photographer
Willem de Kooning (1904–1997) Dutch painter
Quote of de Kooning, in: Modern Artists in America, First Series, R. Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt and B. Karpel eds., 1952 p. 12.
1950's
“I don't know what I feel or what I want to feel. I don't know what to think or what I am.”
Fernando Pessoa book The Book of Disquiet
Source: The Book of Disquiet
“Pictures of perfection, as you know, make me sick and wicked;”
Jane Austen (1775–1817) English novelist
Letter to Fanny Knight (1816-03-23) [Letters of Jane Austen -- Brabourne Edition]
Letters
Context: He and I should not in the least agree, of course, in our ideas of novels and heroines. Pictures of perfection, as you know, make me sick and wicked; but there is some very good sense in what he says, and I particularly respect him for wishing to think well of all young ladies; it shows an amiable and a delicate mind. And he deserves better treatment than to be obliged to read any more of my works.
John Constable (1776–1837) English Romantic painter
Quote from John Constable's letter to Rev. John Fisher (23 October 1821), from John Constable's Correspondence, part 6, pp. 76-78
1820s
Lucian Freud (1922–2011) British painter and engraver
Interview with Martin Gayford, Independent on Sunday 26 May 2002
Other
Helen Frankenthaler (1928–2011) American artist
1970s - 1980s, interview with Deborah Salomon in 'New York Times', 1989
“The world doesn't make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?”
Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer