"I paint to rest from the phenomena of the external world-to pronounce and to make notations of its essences with which to verify the inner eye"

In this quote, artist Morris Graves expresses his motivation for painting. He sees painting as a method to get away from the turmoil and distractions of the external world and instead concentrate on recording the essence of things. By developing graphes of these essences, he has the ability to confirm and validate his own inner vision. This suggests that for Graves, painting is not just a method of creating aesthetically pleasing images, but likewise a method to connect with his inner self and comprehend the world around him on a much deeper level. It highlights the power of art to transcend the physical and use the spiritual and emotional aspects of our presence.