"For centuries, Western tradition had thought of the image in terms of a mirror, following the dualist paradigm of reflector and reflection. With the encouragement of Islamic Art, Matisse suddenly experienced the metamorphosis of the image into an independent, decorated surface. The mirror was succeeded by the veil (aveil represents the visable as such, and inhibits speculation about figurability of the deepest layers of being); the reflection (in the West, a melancholy symbol of metaphysical deficiency) was succeeded by the pure, immediate presence of formal energy, welcoming to life. -- Remi Labrusse