--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem with Matisse is that I can't…" description: "\"The problem with Matisse is that I can't ever figure out when he's done a good painting or a bad painting because I don't know how to analyse him. I ju..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/susan-rothenberg-40208_air_the-problem-with-matisse-is-that-i-can-t_2627809.jpg" --- # The problem with Matisse is that I can't ever figure out… ![“The problem with Matisse is that I can't ever figure out when he's done a good painting or a bad painting because I don't know how to analyse him. I just know that I like the way he put it on and I like his airs and forms.” quote by Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/susan-rothenberg-40208_air_the-problem-with-matisse-is-that-i-can-t_2627809.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/susan-rothenberg-40208_air_the-problem-with-matisse-is-that-i-can-t_2627809.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/susan-rothenberg-40208_air_the-problem-with-matisse-is-that-i-can-t_2627809.jpg) > “The problem with Matisse is that I can't ever figure out when he's done a good painting or a bad painting because I don't know how to analyse him. I just know that I like the way he put it on and I like his airs and forms.” [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He admits he cannot analytically judge Matisse, relying on instinctive appreciation of form and feeling. **In simple terms:** Trusts instinct over analysis for art Key Takeaway Follow gut feeling in art Themes art intuition subjectivity critique visual perception Mood contemplative curious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - gallery visits - personal art collection - educational workshops Key Concepts Aesthetic judgment emotional response subjective taste Questions to Reflect On - Can intuition be trained? - What role does education play? A Different Perspective Subjective taste may limit critical growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Figures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figures/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Good Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-painting-349413/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matisse/) [Matisse Figure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matisse-figure-2163718/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-matisse-2163717/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I think there has to be an interesting transformative process between your perception of reality and making the paintings. If you are just trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/i-think-there-has-to-be-an-interesting-transformative-process-between/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [There is no such thing as good painting about nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rothko/there-is-no-such-thing-as-good-painting-about-nothing/) [Mark Rothko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rothko/) > [I think a good painting or a good work of art does many things it wants, I mean, maybe 15 or 20 or 100.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-salle/i-think-a-good-painting-or-a-good-work-of-art-does-many-things-it/) [David Salle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-salle/) > [A good painting to me has always been like a friend. It keeps me company, comforts and inspires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedy-lamarr/a-good-painting-to-me-has-always-been-like-a-friend-it-keeps-me/) [Hedy Lamarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedy-lamarr/) > [Good art in general aspires to something, as a good painting aspires to something, almost spiritual or holy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/good-art-in-general-aspires-to-something-as-a-good-painting-aspires/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [A good painting should be the equivalent of a good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/a-good-painting-should-be-the-equivalent-of-a-good-deed/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [It is better to have a good painting with ten holes than ten bad paintings without any holes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edvard-munch/it-is-better-to-have-a-good-painting-with-ten-holes-than-ten-bad/) [Edvard Munch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edvard-munch/) > [Objective painting is not good painting unless it is good in the abstract sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/objective-painting-is-not-good-painting-unless-it-is-good-in-the/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [It often takes two to do a good painting - one to paint it, and another to rap the painter smartly with a hammer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-schmid/it-often-takes-two-to-do-a-good-painting-one-to-paint-it-and-another/) [Richard Schmid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-schmid/) > [All my life I have worked to be able to earn my living, but I thought that one could do good painting without attracting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/all-my-life-i-have-worked-to-be-able-to-earn-my-living-but-i-thought/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [“You paint from your subject, not what you see…I rarely paint anything I don’t know very well. It was surprising to me to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/you-paint-from-your-subject-not-what-you-see-i-rarely-paint-anything/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [Painting something that defies the law of the land is good. Painting something that defies the law of the land and the law of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/painting-something-that-defies-the-law-of-the-land-is-good-painting/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [What is the use of good painting? We want a spell cast upon the optical part of our existence! We seldom really see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-musil/what-is-the-use-of-good-painting-we-want-a-spell-cast-upon-the/) [Robert Musil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-musil/) > [Anything is good painting material once you get to know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-milne/anything-is-good-painting-material-once-you-get-to-know-it/) [David Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-milne/) > [Art, if it is successful in the task of questioning reality, if it is good painting and not merely a performance of dexterity, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-swift/art-if-it-is-successful-in-the-task-of-questioning-reality-if-it-is/) [Patrick Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-swift/) ## More by Susan Rothenberg > [Sometimes the painting starts to relate very directly to either sights seen or experiences felt, other times it just goes off on a tangent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/sometimes-the-painting-starts-to-relate-very-directly-to-either/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [I started to try to be a colorist, although secretly thinking of myself as somewhat of a black and whiteist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/i-started-to-try-to-be-a-colorist-although-secretly-thinking-of/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [Some of the pictures are truly mysterious to me.. which is why I so often say publicly that I don't know or don't care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/some-of-the-pictures-are-truly-mysterious-to-me-which-is-why-i-so/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [The paintings are like prayers, relating to wishing for something beyond everyday life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/the-paintings-are-like-prayers-relating-to-wishing-for-something/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [I think I care about beauty, but I don't go for it. I hope it sometimes might be in there. I think, maybe, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/i-think-i-care-about-beauty-but-i-don-t-go-for-it-i-hope-it-sometimes/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [You build up a head of steam. If you're four days out of the studio, on the fifth day you really crash in there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/you-build-up-a-head-of-steam-if-you-re-four-days-out-of-the-studio-on/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [Most of my painting is done sitting in a chair with a book. I'd say it's 80 per cent sitting and reading, 10 per…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/most-of-my-painting-is-done-sitting-in-a-chair-with-a-book-i-d-say-it/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [I think there has to be an interesting transformative process between your perception of reality and making the paintings. If you are just trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/i-think-there-has-to-be-an-interesting-transformative-process-between/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [I think artists almost always end up turning to what's around them, what's in their environment or outside their window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/i-think-artists-almost-always-end-up-turning-to-what-s-around-them/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [I can say that paintings are prayers, they have to do with anything that makes you wish for more that what everyday life provides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/i-can-say-that-paintings-are-prayers-they-have-to-do-with-anything/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) [Explore all 11 Susan Rothenberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) ## More Air quotes > [I will be a tireless advocate for our District's defense priorities including Sheppard Air Force Base, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, universities conducting important research, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/i-will-be-a-tireless-advocate-for-our-district-s-defense-priorities/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. 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But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. 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