5 facts about the modern French artist Henri Matisse
Who was Henri Matisse?
The vibrant colors of Henri Matisse, with expressive brushstrokes, flat and graphic forms helped to define the aesthetics of Fauvism and the goals of modernism itself. The French artist worked in painting, drawing, printmaking, collage and sculpture, often focusing on human figures with a simple line and wrapped in floral motifs. He occasionally incorporated aspects of classical painting into his practice, mutually introducing still lifes and domestic scenes. His brightly colored paintings influenced the works of artists such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and many others. His works are in several collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Tate and the Guggenheim Museum.
Henri Matisse is considered as the Father of Fauvism.
Matisse was one of the founders of Fauvism, one of the first avant-garde movements of the 20th century. Color was the essential element for the structure and expression of painting, and this does not contain the meaning once defined by society. An example of this are colors like blue normally linked to the sky, in fauvism there is no longer this connection.
Henri Matisse studied to be a lawyer.
In 1889, aged 21, Matisse suffered from an acute appendicitis that led him to discover his passion for creating art. After being operated on, he underwent a long recovery time. To reduce the sense of boredom, his mother offered him a box of paints, thus exponentially growing his taste for painting.
Henri Matisse It is Pablo Picasso They had a love-hate relationship.
In 1906, the American writer and art collector Gertrude Stein organized a meeting with the famous artists Henri Matisse It is Pablo Picasso. Although the painters initially disliked each other's work, they felt the power each had to challenge and motivate the other's work. From that date forward, they kept a close eye on each other's new work, thus inspiring each other. A variety of artworks by both resemble or reflect each other's work, so it can be argued that this rivalry and friendship spurred the two artists to innovate and shape 20th-century painting.
loved jazz
Henri Matisse stated that he loved jazz due to its rhythm, deep meaning and because this type of music shares many similarities with his art. In 1947, he produced colored collages from cut paper, which he titled “Jazz”. The artist played the violin daily, thus reflecting the rigorous structure and precise technique that matched his artistic methods.
He liked many of his pets.
Henri Matisse he had three cats called Cousi, Minouche and La Puce, which he fed every morning with brioche. In addition to cats, he also had birds as pets. He represented these animals constantly in his paintings.
