Henri Matisse was one of the most highly influential artists of the 20th century. A painter as well as a skilled sculptor, printmaker, and graphic artist. Matisse was a leading figure of Fauvism and Modernism.
Matisse is celebrated for his revolutionary use of color. His paintings often feature vibrant and unconventional color combinations, demonstrating his ability to convey emotion and atmosphere through color alone. His use of color greatly influenced subsequent generations of artists.
Matisse was not only an exceptional colorist but also a pioneer in redefining the use of form in art. He experimented with various styles and techniques, from Fauvism to Cubism and beyond, always pushing the boundaries of how form and structure could be represented on canvas.
Throughout his career, Matisse increasingly delved into abstraction. His cut-out works, created in his later years when he was confined to a wheelchair, are prime examples of his mastery of abstraction, simplifying forms and using cut paper shapes to create astonishing compositions.
Image: Henri Matisse 1913, by Alvin Langdon Coburn
