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About this quote

What does it mean?
Art starts from imagination, not copying reality; natural details are just additions.
In plain terms
Painting should come from your mind, not just copying what you see.
What can you take from it?
Prioritize imagination over exact replication.

Where it applies

  • painting
  • design
  • storytelling

Putting it to work

  • start with a vision
  • use nature as detail

Questions to consider

  • Do you copy or create?
  • Where does your inspiration start?

Another view

Some art forms rely heavily on direct observation.

More from Edgar Degas

  1. There is a kind of success that is indistinguishable from panic.

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  2. C'est tres bien de copier ce qu'on voit, c'est beaucoup mieux de dessiner ce que l'on ne voit plus que dans son memoire. C'est une transformation pendant laque…

    Permalink to quote #16
  3. Only when he no longer knows what he is doing does the painter do good things.

    Permalink to quote #13

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