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In a face, look for the main light and the main shadow; the rest will come naturally — it's often not important. And then you must cultivate your memory, because Nature will only provide you with references. Nature is like a warden in a lunatic asylum. It stops you from becoming banal.

— Édouard Manet Portrait of Manet by himself and his contemporaries (1960)

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More quotes by Édouard Manet

One must be of one's time and paint what one sees.

Encyclopedia of Artists (2000)

Who is this Monet whose name sounds just like mine and who is taking advantage of my notoriety?

You must always remain master of the situation and do what you please. No school tasks, ah, no! no tasks!

Portrait of Manet by himself and his contemporaries (1960)

I was painting modern Paris while you were still painting Greek athletes..

The Bellevue air [suburb outside Paris with curative waters] has done me a world of good.. .But Alas! Naturalist painting is more in disfavor than ever.

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Édouard Manet (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.