An artist must possess Nature. He must identify himself with her rhythm, by efforts that will prepare the mastery which will later enable him to express himself in his own language.
Source: In Artists in Quotation, by Donna Ward La Cour, 1989.
-- Henri Matisse, (Dec 31 1869-1954), French artist, author; He was pioneer of modern art of room interiors, vivid female nudes, and still-lifes, e.g., The Red Studio, 1911.