Henri Matisse - Biography

Henri Matisse, born to a grain merchant in the Picardy region of northern France, initially pursued law and worked as a law clerk. A turning point in his life came at the age of 21 when a serious illness led him to discover his passion for painting during convalescence.

In 1892, Matisse abandoned his legal career, enrolling in art classes at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Influenced by impressionist and post-impressionist painters such as Pisarro, Cezanne, van Gogh, Gauguin, Paul Signac, and W. Turner, Matisse experimented with various styles. Around 1905, he defined his distinctive style marked by bold, vibrant colors executed with broad brush strokes.

The Master of Colors

After a 1905 exhibition at the Salon d'Automne, Matisse and Andre Derain's group were mockingly dubbed Les Fauves, meaning The Wild Beasts. In 1905-1906, Matisse painted one of his masterpieces, The Joy of Life, considered a significant work of 20th-century art and acquired by collector Dr. Albert C. Barnes. The Barnes Collection, including this painting, was unveiled to the public in 1993 outside Philadelphia.

Early collectors like Gertrude Stein and her brother Leo, along with admirer Pablo Picasso, supported Matisse's work. After World War I, Matisse gained international recognition and settled in Nice in 1917, receiving the French Legion of Honor award in 1925.

The Late Years

In 1941, Matisse underwent abdominal cancer surgery, impacting his health and ability to paint upright. Turning to paper cut-outs, he continued creating vibrant works with daring compositions until his death on November 3, 1954, in Nice. Pablo Picasso aptly remarked, "All things considered, there is only Matisse."

Citations - Henri Matisse

"I have always tried to hide my efforts and wished my works to have the light joyousness of springtime, which never lets anyone suspect the labors it has cost me."

"In modern art, it is undoubtedly to Cezanne that I owe the most."

"A colorist makes his presence known even in a single charcoal drawing."

"The essential thing is to spring forth, to express the bolt of lightning one senses upon contact with a thing. The function of the artist is not to translate an observation but to express the shock of the object on his nature; the shock, with the original reaction."

Author:
Dieter Wanczura, revised by AI
First Publication: 6/12/2001
Latest Update: 4/10/2024

Literature source used for this Henri Matisse biography

• "Ingrid Schaffner: Henri Matisse, 1998, Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated, New York, ISBN 0-8362-1937-6

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