I believe that one should not think about nature in painting pictures. At least not during the process of conceiving the image. An oil sketch should be made just according to the way one once felt something in nature. But my own personal feeling, that is the main thing. Once I have got that pinned down, clear in its form and color, only then do I introduce things from nature which will make my picture have a natural; effect, so that a layman will be totally convinced that I painted my picture from nature.


excerpt of her Journal (1898); as quoted in Voicing our visions, – Writings by women artists; ed. Mara R. Witzling, Universe New York, 1991, p. 197

Paula Modersohn-Becker Quotes

I believe that one should not think about nature in painting pictures. At least not during the process of conceiving the image. An oil sketch should...

I believe that one should not think about nature in painting pictures. At least not during the process of conceiving the image. An oil sketch should...

I believe that one should not think about nature in painting pictures. At least not during the process of conceiving the image. An oil sketch should...

I believe that one should not think about nature in painting pictures. At least not during the process of conceiving the image. An oil sketch should...