Henri Matisse

Question 1

Matisse

Answer 1

One of the founders of Fauvism

French artist known for his vibrant use of colour and bold, expressive style.

Led the french art movement of Fauvism, but was also a part of other movements (post-impressionism, interest in cubism).

Wished to create “a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue”.

Question 2

Woman with a Hat, 1905

Answer 2

Unrealistic colours and rough, uneven brushwork to create a sketchy, unfinished quality.

Sharp edges, bright colours and bold brushstrokes influenced by African masks, statues and fabrics.

Leo Stein, one of the family who bought the painting, described it as “the nastiest smear of paint”.

Depicting Matisse’s own wife, Amélie.

The colours of the clothing were purely expressive, painted with what he felt and observed.

Intended to challenge the traditional idea of what a portrait should be through bright colours and sharp edges, not traditional accuracy and realism, not by the subject herself, who was seated traditionally, but the wild colours and brushstrokes.

Question 3

The Green Stripe, 1905

Answer 3

Vibrant, non-realistic brushwork.

Green stripe down the middle of the face, dividing two colour zones, green tones on one side, oranges and pinks on the other.

Portrait of Matisse’s wife, Amélie.

Flat, little depth signified.
Evident but not overly significant brushstrokes.

Creates a sense of balance and harmony, and movement and energy.

Wanted audiences to appreciate its beauty, but also engage with it intellectually.

Question 4

Main features of Fauvism

Answer 4

Distinct sections of colour, lack of blending

Flat colour

Saturated and juxtaposed colours

Simplified forms

Expressive application of paint

Emphasis on personal expression

Sometimes dark outlines

Spontaneous and impulsive brushstrokes, ‘violent’ (wild beasts)

The term ‘Fauvism’ comes from ‘Les Fauves’ meaning wild beasts. This was coined by the critic Louis Vauxcelles, when he saw Henri Matisse and André Derain’s work in the salon d’automne exhibition in Paris, 1905.

Question 5

Intentions of Fauvist artists

Answer 5

To change art from being a representational tool into a means of expressing the artist’s individuality.

Focus on the artist’s direct experience of their subjects, their emotional response to nature, and intuition.