It seems to me that today, if the artist wishes to be serious - to cut out a little original niche for himself, or at least preserve his own innocence of personality - he must once more sink himself in solitude. There is too much talk and gossip; pictures are apparently made, like stock-market prices, by competition of people eager for profit; in order to do anything at all we need (so to speak) the wit and ideas of our neighbors as much as the businessmen need the funds of others to win on the market. All this traffic sharpens our intelligence and falsifies our judgment.
Edgar DegasIt is people's movement that consoles us. If the leaves of a tree did not move, how sad would be the tree - and so should we.
Edgar DegasDo portraits of people in familiar and typical attitudes, above all give to their face the same choice of expression that one gives to their body.
Edgar Degas