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Delacroix on laying in a painting

From a journal entry dated March 2 1847:

“One of the great advantages of a lay-in by tone and general effect, without worrying about the details, is that you need to put in only those which are absolutely essential. Beginning by  completing the backgrounds, as I have done here, I have made them as simple as possible, so as to avoid their appearing over-loaded beside the simple masses that still represent the figures. Conversely, when I come to finish the figures, the simplicity of the backgrounds will allow – even compel – me to put in only what is absolutely essential.”
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