Recently I have taken to isolating limbs, the torso. Why am I blamed for it? Why is the head allowed and not portions of the body? Every part of the human figure is expressive.

To the artist there is never anything ugly in nature

There are unknown forces in nature; when we give ourselves wholly to her, without reserve, she lends them to us; she shows us these forms, which our watching eyes do not see, which our intelligence does not understand or suspect.

There should be no argument in regard to morality in art. There is no morality in nature.

I invent nothing, I rediscover.

The body always expresses the spirit whose envelope it is. And for him who can see, the nude offers the richest meaning.

Mere exactitude, of which photography and moulage [life casting] are the lowest forms, does not inspire feelings.