“There was no chance of discovering the trick because the artist’s touch is even stronger than in Rembrandt’s Night Watch or Hals’ Regents. It’s all there, but also no, it isn’t, I swear. It looks all right, it goes to your head, takes your breath away and tickles you, all without you knowing how it’s done. It’s sorcery, it’s trickery, it’s miraculous,” and, bursting into laughter, “it’s dishonest!” then, solemnly raising his head and speaking in a deep bass note he tried to harmonize with his previous words, “It’s sincere.”
