In an interview in 1909 the artist explained that he had abandoned impressionism because it was too rooted in the copying of nature, too objective, too easily satisfied with the pleasure of recording. In short, "It is a state of agitation." Matisse then outlined his goals: "[To] work toward serenity through the simplification of ideas and form. The ensemble is our only ideal. Details lessen the purity of the lines and harm the emotional intensity; we reject them."