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About this quote

What does it mean?
Art should provide mental relief and balance, similar to physical comfort, for anyone who works with their mind.
In plain terms
Art ought to calm the mind like a comfortable chair relaxes the body.
What can you take from it?
Create art that soothes rather than disturbs the viewer.

Where it applies

  • office work
  • creative stress
  • daily fatigue

Putting it to work

  • design calming spaces
  • create soothing visuals
  • reduce visual noise

Questions to consider

  • What does your work say about calm?
  • How can art serve function?

Another view

Not all art aims to soothe; some seeks to provoke or challenge.

More from Henri Matisse

  1. A work of art must carry within itself its complete significance and impose that upon the beholder before he recognises the subject matter.

    Permalink to quote #20
  2. Drawing with scissors: To cut to the quick in color reminds me of the direct cutting of sculptors.

    Permalink to quote #22
  3. There is an impelling proportion of tones that may lead me to change the shape of a figure or to transform my composition. Until I have achieved this proportio…

    Permalink to quote #19

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