Henri Matisse was a twentieth-century French artist renowned for his use of color and form. Matisse is primarily recognized as a painter, but he also experimented with sculpting, drawing and printmaking. He is associated with the Fauvism and Modernism movements and was influenced by Paul Gauguin, Paul Cézanne, Paul Signac and Vincent van Gogh.
Henri Matisse Biography
Henri Matisse was born on December 31st, 1869, in Le Cateau, France. He developed an interest in painting after experimenting with art during a post-operation convalescence and ultimately abandoned his study of law to pursue a career as an artist.
Matisse first exhibited his paintings in a solo exhibition in 1904. His art initially received criticism, but he gradually won widespread critical and popular acclaim for his innovative artwork. Matisse was also close friends with Pablo Picasso, another renowned 20th century painter and artist.
Beginning in the 1920s, Matisse spent most of his time in Nice, France. He experimented with decoupage as he grew older, even while bedridden from illness. He died on November 3rd, 1954, from a heart attack. He was 84 years old.
Henri Matisse Quotes
- “An artist must possess Nature. He must identify himself with her rhythm, by efforts that will prepare the mastery which will later enable him to express himself in his own language.”
- “Creativity takes courage.”
- “Derive happiness in oneself from a good day's work, from illuminating the fog that surrounds us.”
- “The essential thing is to put oneself in a frame of mind which is close to that of prayer.”
- “I have always tried to hide my efforts and wished my works to have a light joyousness of springtime which never lets anyone suspect the labors it has cost me.”
- “The only valid thing in art is the one thing that cannot be explained, to explain away the mystery of a great painting would do irreplaceable harm, for whenever you explain or define something you substitute the explanation or the definition for the thing itself.”
The Legacy of Henri Matisse
In 1952, Henri Matisse established a museum dedicated to his artwork in Le Cateau, France, the city in which he was born. Many renowned museums hold Matisse’s paintings and other artwork in their collections today. As of 2010, “Matisse: Radical Invention, 1913–1917” had recently been exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Matisse has influenced several prominent artists, including Hans Hoffman and Tom Wesselman.
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Rebekah Richards - Rebekah Richards has published fiction and nonfiction in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Brandeis Law Journal, Where the Children Play, ...
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