Alfred Stevens: "Impressions on Painting"

"An Artist in his Studio" by Alfred Stevens

"Alfred Stevens busied himself in writing his thoughts on painting which were published under the title of 'Impressions sur la Peinture [Impressions on Painting]' in 1886. Knowing how reluctant publishers are to risk their money, the fact that this little book came out in separate French, English and American editions is proof of its success and, no doubt, its influence. Because 'Impressions' is simply a collection of sentences, it is easily read but the meaning repays thought. Of course, there are moments when he is simply reflecting his own natural gifts, but they are valuable and reflect his total belief in painting 'modern life' which he saw around him."

A few observations from his book:

• "The student should learn to draw, as much as possible, with his brush."
• "A painter is only great when he is a master workman."
• "A painter, however mediocre, who has depicted the era in which he lives will become more interesting in time than he who, having more talent, portrays an epoch he has never seen."
• "It is not necessary to go to the East to look for light and for picturesque motives. To the penetrating painter everything everywhere is beautiful."
• "The more beautiful and distingue the subject, the more difficult it is to paint."
• "There should be no haste in the erection of a statue to a man. Neither should we hasten to introduce our masters into the Louvre. Time alone is an infallible classifier."
• "A painter is constantly at work, even outside of his studio."
• "The more one knows, the more one simplifies."
• "A man's hand has the same expression as his face."
• "Painters who, in spite of their talent, no longer make use of nature, disquiet me as to their future."
• "In painting, it is an art to know when to stop."
• "If one has unexpectedly done well, he may attribute his success to the effect of his previous study."
• "In a portrait, it is better to let the sitter take an habitual pose than to strive for effect by an unusual one."
• "The moon beautifies everything. It lends accent to sterile landscapes that the sun itself is powerless to animate, because it suppresses details and gives value only to the mass."
• "There is no artist's studio, even a mediocre one, in which a study may not be found superior to his finished works."
• "People have a sad tendency to run after the qualities of their neighbors and to neglect those with which they themselves are endowed." 
• "The masters have not always produced masterpieces. Happy he who, in our day, shall be able to leave behind him a fine bit of painting!"

The book in its entirety: https://archive.org/details/impressionsonpai00stev/mode/2up

To be continued

(Excerpts from "Alfred Stevens" by Paul Mitchell.)