Paul Signac. (№ 458520)

To paint from life, isn’t this a kind of slavery, doesn’t this show the artist’s lack of creativity? <...> If I want to paint the flaming ships of the Saint-Pierre raid on the day of the invasion, and if I know my business, I know what I want to do, won’t my work be more interesting than that which would be done by some naval officer, if he had the opportunity and had the courage to paint this motif from life? If I don’t succeed in painting, it means I’m not skilled enough, that’s all.