Henri Matisse

1869-1954

MatissePicture (L) Portrait (R)

Matisse - The Early Years

Born in northern France in 1869 near the Belgium border.

In 1887 Matisse with to Paris to study law. When he was 21, Matisse became seriously

ill. While recovering, his mom gave him a

“how to paint” book and he was inspired forever.

In 1891 he went back to Paris to study art.

Career Accomplishments

• Painting

• Drawing

• Sculpture

• Book Illustration

• Paper cut outs - collages

Early Work

Matisse created brilliantly colored canvases by using color which he applied using a variety of brushwork - thin and

thick.

Women with a Hat

Fauvism- from the French word meaning “wild beasts”

The Fauvist period refers to combinations of bright colors and energetic brushwork.

This period was a brief one for Matisse but he produced a significant number of remarkable canvases.

He became known as the leader in ‘Fauves’ and in 1905 he exhibited together with other Fauve painters.

The bold forms and bright colors of the paintings shocked Paris.

Harmony in Red 1908

Still Life with Blue Tablecloth 1909

The Pineapple

Open Window at Collioure

Still Life Colors

Nice Period – 1917-1930

• In autumn of 1917,

Matisse traveled to

Nice and settled there

for the rest of his life.

Principal subject

remained the female

figure.

Madame Matisse, Laurette in Green Robe, The Young Sailor 1905-1906

MARGUERITE

Madame Matisse

Matisse Sculpture

• Sculpture was another way for Matisse to express himself. • Sculpture frequently became an inspiration of painting. Here are

two examples:

Madeleine 1903 Back reliefs (one of four) 1903-1931

Chapel of the Rosary in Vence1948-1951

• Matisse crowning achievement was working in the Chapel of the Rosary.

• He did the wall decorations, Stations of the Cross, designed the furniture, made the stain-glass windows and many other items in this Chapel.

HENRI MATISSE COLLAGE

Later in his life was his period of selfless invention, painting the joyful side of his life.

1941 after a serious operation he became

too weak to stand at an easel and became wheelchair bound.

He began a series of collages which he called “Drawing with Scissors”.

He cut bright colored painted paper into shapes and juxtaposed them into formed images.

He continually had his assistants move pieces around until he felt they looked right.

He created huge pieces this way and his walls at home were covered in these cut-out collages.

Matisse at work with cut-outs

JAZZ

Knifethrower

Polinesca the Sky

Panels

LA GERBE

Blue with Hair in the Wind

Various Cut Outs

The Creole Dancer

Anfitrite

Henri Matisse Died in 1954 at the age of 84

Established himself as one of the foremost artists of the Modern Period (Picasso was the other one).

He enjoyed international fame during his lifetime and his works are exhibited throughout the world.

Quotes:

“We must all see life as if we were children.”

Creativity takes courage.”