Painting is a source of endless pleasure, but also of great anguish.

The craft of painting has virtually disappeared. There is hardly anyone left who really possesses it. For evidence one has only to look at the painters of this century.

I had only planned to strike the gong violently in order to somehow shake people up and make them more aware. I think I succeeded.

I refuse to confide and don't like it when people write about art.

I always feel the desire to look for the extraordinary in ordinary things; to suggest, not to impose, to leave always a slight touch of mystery in my paintings.

I will always find even the worst paintings that attempt some kind of representation better than the best invented paintings.

The best way to begin is to say: 'Balthus is a painter of whom nothing is known. And now let us have a look at the paintings'.