These famous paintings by Henri Matisse helped revolutionize the art world.
For Matisse,Woman with a Hatmarked a journey toward a new, expressive style.
Still, when looking at later Cubist portraits by Picasso, Matisse’s influence is undeniable.
Henri Matisse in Paris (1913)(Photo:Alvin Langdon Coburn[Public domain])
The vivid colors and Matisse’s refusal to use spatial norms was a revolution.
Ignoring how Western art typically plays with scale and proportion, Matisse turned tradition on its head.
And, in doing so, he created what some consider one of the cornerstones of modern art.
Woman with a Hat, 1905 (Photo: Public domain viaWikipedia)
Purchased by Gertrude Stein, it was hung in the Paris apartment where she had her weekly salons.
Their movement and tension is palpable.
This is the finalized version of a well-known painting located in New York’s MoMA.
“The Green Stripe (Portrait of Madame Matisse),” 1905 (Photo: Public domain viaWikipedia)
Thisfirst version, which Matisse viewed as a preparatory sketch, has a much lighter mood and energy.
But he never let this obstacle stand in the way of his creativity.
Matisse would then cut the paper into different shapes and create compositions.
“Le bonheur de vivre,” 1905/1906 (Photo:Wikipedia)
Often, as is the case with hisBlue Nudesseries, they were then transformed into lithographs.
Blue Nudesis a triumphant series of four nudes.
Just two years after finishing this innovative series, Matisse lost his life.
“The Dance (Second Version),” 1909/1910 (Photo: Public domain viaWikipedia)
