--- title: "6 Composition Quotes By Henri Matisse" description: "6 Composition quotes by Henri Matisse. Plus more from Henri Matisse and more Composition sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/henri-matisse-1641_art_each-work-of-art-is-a-collection-of-sign_688762.jpg" --- > [Each work of art is a collection of signs invented during the picture's execution to suit the needs of their position. Taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/each-work-of-art-is-a-collection-of-signs-invented-during-the-picture/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/henri-matisse-1641_art_each-work-of-art-is-a-collection-of-sign_688762.jpg) > [I never retouch a sketch: I take a canvas the same size, as I may change the composition somewhat. But I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/i-never-retouch-a-sketch-i-take-a-canvas-the-same-size-as-i-may/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/henri-matisse-1641_artist_i-never-retouch-a-sketch-i-take-a-canvas_798986.jpg) > [Composition is the art of arranging in a decorative manner the various elements which the painter uses to express his sentiments. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/composition-is-the-art-of-arranging-in-a-decorative-manner-the/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c31/henri-matisse-1641_arranging_composition-is-the-art-of-arranging-in-a_843542.jpg) > [An artist who wants to transpose a composition onto a larger canvas must conceive it over again in order to preserve its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/an-artist-who-wants-to-transpose-a-composition-onto-a-larger-canvas/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/henri-matisse-1641_art_an-artist-who-wants-to-transpose-a-compo_1780380.jpg) > [Composition, the aim of which is expression, alters itself according to the surface to be covered. If I take a sheet of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/composition-the-aim-of-which-is-expression-alters-itself-according-to/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/henri-matisse-1641_aim_composition-the-aim-of-which-is-expressi_2438442.jpg) > [I cannot copy nature in a servile way; I am forced to interpret nature and submit it to the spirit of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/i-cannot-copy-nature-in-a-servile-way-i-am-forced-to-interpret-nature/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/henri-matisse-1641_color_i-cannot-copy-nature-in-a-servile-way-i_2533379.jpg) ## Other authors on Composition ## More by Henri Matisse > [The wall around the window does not create two worlds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/the-wall-around-the-window-does-not-create-two-worlds/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [Arrival = Prison, and the artist must never be a prisoner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/arrival-prison-and-the-artist-must-never-be-a-prisoner/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [To arrive is to be in prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/to-arrive-is-to-be-in-prison/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [When I saw what a mess everything was in I asked for my money back on the ticket. I would have felt I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/when-i-saw-what-a-mess-everything-was-in-i-asked-for-my-money-back-on/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [A painting in an interior spreads joy around it by the colors, which calm us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/a-painting-in-an-interior-spreads-joy-around-it-by-the-colors-which/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [Color was not given to us in order that we should imitate Nature. It was given to us so that we can express our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/color-was-not-given-to-us-in-order-that-we-should-imitate-nature-it/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [If it is practiced by a man of taste, the photograph will have the appearance of art (but) the photographer must...intervene as little as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/if-it-is-practiced-by-a-man-of-taste-the-photograph-will-have-the/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [I have always tried to hide my efforts and wished my works to have a light joyousness of springtime which never lets anyone suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/i-have-always-tried-to-hide-my-efforts-and-wished-my-works-to-have-a/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [The chief function of color should be to serve expression as well as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/the-chief-function-of-color-should-be-to-serve-expression-as-well-as/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [One gets into a state of creativity by conscious work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/one-gets-into-a-state-of-creativity-by-conscious-work/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [My pictures are made up of four or five colors that collide with one another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/my-pictures-are-made-up-of-four-or-five-colors-that-collide-with-one/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [What I dream of is an art of balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/what-i-dream-of-is-an-art-of-balance/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [...I am driven on by an idea that I really only grasp as it grows with the picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/i-am-driven-on-by-an-idea-that-i-really-only-grasp-as-it-grows-with/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [I don't paint things. I only paint the difference between things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/i-don-t-paint-things-i-only-paint-the-difference-between-things/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [After a half-century of hard work and reflection the wall is still there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/after-a-half-century-of-hard-work-and-reflection-the-wall-is-still/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composition/henri-matisse/#itemlist", "name": "6 Composition Quotes By Henri Matisse", "numberOfItems": 6, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Each work of art is a collection of signs invented during the picture's execution to suit the needs of their position. 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