Impressionism' was the name given to a certain form of observation when Monet, not content with using his eyes to see what things were or what they looked like as everybody had done before him, turned his attention to noting what took place on his own retina (as an oculist would test his own vision).

It is certain that at certain times talent entirely overcomes thought or poetry.

Mine is the horny hand of toil.

You can't do sketches enough. Sketch everything and keep your curiosity fresh.

Every time I paint a portrait I lose a friend.

An artist painting a picture should have at his side a man with a club to hit him over the head when the picture is finished.

A portrait is a picture in which there is just a tiny little something not quite right about the mouth.