and drawing. He is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism
although he rejected the term, and preferred to be called a realist. A superb draughtsman
, he is especially identified with the subject of the dance, and over half of his works depict dancers. These display his mastery in the depiction of movement, as do his racecourse subjects and female nudes.
Boredom soon overcomes me when I am contemplating nature.
Your pictures would have been finished a long time ago if I were not forced every day to do something to earn money.
I assure you no art was ever less spontaneous than mine. What I do is the result of reflection and study of the great masters; of inspiration, spontaneity, temperament — temperament is the word — I know nothing.
À vous il faut la vie naturelle, à moi la vie factice.
Hitherto the nude has always been represented in poses which presuppose an audience; but these women of mine are honest, simple folk, unconcerned by any other interests than those involved in their physical condition. Here is another; she is washing her feet. It is as if you looked through a key-hole.
What a delightful thing is the conversation of specialists! One understands absolutely nothing and it’s charming.
Comme nous avons mal fait de nous laisser appeler Impressionistes.
I always urged my contemporaries to look for interest and inspiration to the development and study of drawing, but they would not listen. They thought the road to salvation lay by the way of colour.
Je n'admets pas qu'une femme puisse dessiner comme ca.