The work of art must seize upon you, wrap you up in itself, carry you away. It is the means by which the artist conveys his passion; it is the current which he puts forth which sweeps you along in his passion.

An artist, under pain of oblivion, must have confidence in himself, and listen only to his real master: Nature.

It is after you have lost your teeth that you can afford to buy steaks.

The simplest subjects are the immortal ones.

If you paint the leaf on a tree without using a model, your imagination will only supply you with a few leaves; but Nature offers you millions, all on the same tree. No two leaves are exactly the same. The artist who paints only what is in his mind must very soon repeat himself.

There are two indices of genuine art: it is inimitable and it is ineffable.

The work of art must seize upon you, wrap you up in itself, carry you away. It is the means by which the artist conveys his passion; it is the current which he puts forth which sweeps you along in his passion.