Art: Woman with a Hat Flashcards
What view is the woman shown in, and who is she looking at?
three-quarter view, and she’s looking at the painter/the viewer
What is her expression like?
serious and penetrating
How much of the composition does her hat fill?
more than a third
What is she holding, and what does it indicate?
She’s holding a fan with her gloved hand, which indicates her interest in fashion and references 19th-century Impressionist paintings/
Is the painting meant to be intimate or displayed in public?
The model is dressed to be seen and admired in the public eye.
Who is the model for the woman?
Matisse’s wife, Amelie Parayre.
What colors are present in the portrait?
The background is green, blue, pink, yellow, and red. The model’s forehead is green, as is her nose and her jawline. Underneath her chin is purple, a color that reappears in her hat, and the red of her lips is repeated in her hair.
What did Amelie Parayre do?
She was an accomplished milliner who had been making hats since she was 23 (10 years before this painting). She set up her own hat shop in 1899, but it failed.
How was Matisse’s relationship with Picasso?
They had an enduring friendship based on rivalry, as they were competing for patronage, and had debates about the path modern art should take.
Who was Woman with a Hat purchased by?
The Stein family. Eventually it was gifted to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
What was the original catalogue title of this piece?
La Femme au Chapeau
