The essential thing is to spring forth, to express the bolt of lightning one senses upon contact with a thing. The function of the artist is not to t… - Henri Matisse

" "

The essential thing is to spring forth, to express the bolt of lightning one senses upon contact with a thing. The function of the artist is not to translate an observation but to express the shock of the object on his nature; the shock, with the original reaction.

English
Collect this quote

About Henri Matisse

Henri Émile Benoît Matisse (31 December 1869 – 3 November 1954) was a French artist. Particularly known for his striking use of colour, Matisse is one of the very few indisputable giants of modern art, alongside Pablo Picasso and Wassily Kandinsky.

Biography information from Wikiquote

Also Known As

Alternative Names: Henri-Émile-Benoît Matisse • Henri Emile Benoît Matisse • Henri Emile Benoit Matisse • Henri-Emile-Benoît Matisse • Henri-Emile-Benoit Matisse • H. Matisse • matisse h. • h. matisse • matisse henri • Henri-Matisse • Matisse • Anri Matiss
All quotes from Henri Matisse Similar Quotes by other Originators
Limited Time Offer

Premium members can get their quote collection automatically imported into their Quotewise collections.

Contact Us Get Premium

Additional quotes by Henri Matisse

"I do not distinguish between the construction of a book and that of a
painting and I always proceed from the simple to the complex." - 1946
paintings writing-process
Find Similar
...for whether we want to or not, we belong to our time and we share in its opinions, its feelings, even its delusions.
Find Similar
Works in ChatGPT, Claude, or Any AI

Add semantic quote search to your AI assistant via MCP. One command setup.

Set Up MCP
Don’t wait for inspiration. It comes while one is working.
Find Similar