"I do not literally paint that table, but the emotion it produces upon me"

This quote by Henri Matisse talks to the power of emotion in art. He is stating that he does not paint the physical table, however rather the feeling it produces in him. This talks to the concept that art is not just about the physical representation of an item, but likewise about the feelings and emotions it evokes in the artist. Matisse is recommending that the feeling the table produces in him is more vital than the physical representation of the table. He is emphasizing the value of feeling in art, and how it can be used to convey a message or feeling. This quote also speaks with the concept that art is subjective, which the same object can evoke different emotions in different individuals. Matisse is recommending that the feeling the table produces in him is distinct and individual, which it should be the focus of his art.