What did Gustave Flaubert mean by saying an author should be present everywhere and visible nowhere?

Gustave Flaubert’s statement that "the author, in his work, must be like God in the Universe, present everywhere and visible nowhere" reflects his pursuit of absolute objectivity in literature.1

By this, Flaubert meant that an author should exert total control over the creation of their fictional world—ensuring every detail is crafted with precision—without intruding into the narrative with their own personal opinions, moral judgments, or overt presence. He believed that art should be independent of the author's subjective personality, allowing the work to exist as a self-contained reality.1

In practice, Flaubert achieved this by meticulously molding his prose to reflect the specific perspectives, ambitions, and limitations of his characters, rather than imposing his own voice upon them. While he sought to remain "invisible" by avoiding direct authorial commentary, his presence remained felt through the rigorous, ironic, and analytical style that defined his work. This approach was central to his role as a pioneer of the realist school of French literature, where he prioritized the artistic representation of truth over the author's personal moralizing.213