Henri Matisse, in full Henri-Émile-Benoît Matisse, (born December 31, 1869, Le Cateau, Picardy, France—died November 3, 1954, Nice)

 Henri Émile Benoît Matisse was a French visual artist, known for both his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known primarily as a painter. 

He was the leader of the Fauvist (Fauvism, style of painting that flourished in France around the turn of the 20th century. Fauve artists used pure, brilliant colour aggressively applied straight from the paint tubes to create a sense of an explosion on the canvas) movement about 1900, and he pursued the expressiveness of colour throughout his career. His subjects were largely domestic or figurative, and a distinct Mediterranean verve presides in the treatment.

In his early years, his parents were in the grain business,, and he displayed little interest in art until he was 20 years old, studied law and became clerk in a law office. He began to sit in on an early-morning drawing class at the local École Quentin-Latour, and, in 1890, while recovering from a severe attack of appendicitis, he began to paint, at first copying the coloured reproductions in a box of oils his mother had given him. Soon he was decorating the home of his grandparents at Le Cateau. In 1891 he abandoned the law and returned to Paris to become a professional artist.

Like many artists who struggle to find their flair or style, he struggled in his initial years to find his niche. Henri Matisse says “I plunged head down into work,” he said later, “on the principle I had heard, all my young life, expressed by the words ‘Hurry up!’ Like my parents, I hurried up in my work, pushed by I don’t know what, by a force which today I perceive as being foreign to my life as a normal man.” This 19th-century gospel of work derived from a middle-class, northern French upbringing,  and found his calling in the avant-garde detailed style of painting. However, before adapting or accepting this technique or style of painting he studied, and travelled all over France and later upon meeting his wife he travelled to London and also observed the art of paintings of J.M.W. Turner and worked in Corsica, where he received a lasting impression of Mediterranean sunlight and colour.

During all his years in painting, many styles of painting emerged and painters changed or adapted to Expressionism, Cubism, or some kind of neo-traditionalism. However, Matisse has no interest in it and he kept exploring Fauvism in his ways all through the economic crisis and the end of world war 1. 

Looking at all his paintings, it's wonderful to note he was a master of colour. All his paintings were moving and multi-dimensional yet simple. The colours were the speaking factor and looking at them you feel loved, energized, or overpowered by emotion. 

The Open Window

ear	1905
Dimensions	55cm X 46cm
Location	National Gallery of Art, Washington

The Open Window, painted in the year 1905 is of fauvist style with the measurement of 55cm X 46cm. 

The painting depicts the view that can be witnessed from the window of Matisse’s apartment. It displays a picturesque fishing port, the interior of the room, window, the harbour view, and the balcony.Read more: https://historyten.com/arts/best-henri-matisse-paintings/#ixzz7nhbsAVHc

The Joy of Life

Year	1906
Dimensions	175cm X 241cm
Location	Barnes Foundation, Lower Merion, US

The most radical painting, the Joy of Life, was painted in the year 1906. It was in the fauvist style with the measurement of 175cm X 241cm.

This painting depicts the group of nude people, both male and female, in a landscape. Many dancing figures can also be witnessed in the background of this painting.

With the use of vivid colours, flattened space, techniques of shifting perspectives, and motion effect, this painting was able to be one of the greatest works under fauvist. It is also considered to be the breakthrough work of Matisse.Read more: https://historyten.com/arts/best-henri-matisse-paintings/#ixzz7nhciyHt

 Blue Nude 

The most controversial art piece, Blue Nude ( Souvenir of Biskra) was painted in the year 1907. It is in the fauvist style with the measurement of 92.1cm X 140.3cm.

The painting displays a nude woman lying on the grass with blue shades all over her figure. The woman is shown lying with one leg on the other and her arm resting on her head.

When the painting was first exhibited to the public in the year 1907, its appearance shocked all of the French people.

It became one of the most controversial art pieces of Matisse due to its nudity and the representation of the woman’s figure. 

In the year 1913, an effigy of this painting was burned by the outraged public at the Armory Show in Chicago.

Despite the controversy, the art was able to inspire Pablo Picasso, who later created his most renowned masterpieces – The Young Ladies of Avignon.

Today, the Blue Nude is placed in the Baltimore Museum of Art.Read more: https://historyten.com/arts/best-henri-matisse-paintings/#ixzz7nhsdVArN

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