“What seems most significant to me about our movement is that we have freed painting from the importance of the subject. I am at liberty to paint flowers and call them flowers, without their needing to tell a story.” StoriesSeemsLibertySubjectsMovementPaintingFlowerImportancePaintSignificant Author:Pierre-Auguste Renoir
“I see a flower. It gives me a sensation of the beautiful. I wish to paint it. And as soon as I wish to paint it I see the whole subject - flower - changed. It is now an art problem to resolve.” GivingArtWholeProblemBeautifulWishSubjectsChangedFlowerGive MePaintResolveSensations Author:Georges Vantongerloo
“Oh, I never meant, in my old age, to become subject to the thrall of a love like this; it is almost dreadful, so absorbing, so stirring down to the deeps. For the tiny creature is so old and wise and sweet, and so fascinating in his sturdy common sense and clear intelligence; and his affection for me is a wonderful, exquisite thing, the sweetest flower that has bloomed for me in all my life through.” AgeCommonClearWiseWonderfulSubjectsSweetFlowerCreaturesAffectionTinyCommon SenseOld AgeFascinatingGrandparentExquisiteSweetestStirringAbsorbingSturdyOld And Wise Book:Letters of Celia Thaxter Source: Letters of Celia Thaxter
“We hate poetry that has a palpable design upon us - and if we do not agree, seems to put its hand in its breeches pocket. Poetry should be great & unobtrusive, a thing which enters into one's soul, and does not startle it or amaze it with itself but with its subject. - How beautiful are the retired flowers! how would they lose their beauty were they to throng into the highway crying out, "admire me I am a violet! dote upon me I am a primrose!"” IfsShouldDoeSoulHandsSeemsBeautifulHateLosesSubjectsCryDesignFlowerAgreeAdmirePocketsVioletHighwaysRetired Book:Selected Letters Source: Selected Letters