Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse, 1913
Born	Henri Émile Benoît Matisse (1869-12-31)31 December 1869 Le Cateau-Cambrésis, Nord, France
Died	3 November 1954(1954-11-03) (aged 84) Nice, France
Nationality	French
Education	Académie Julian, École des Beaux-Arts
Known for	Painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking
Notable work	Woman with a Hat, The Dance, Red Room (Harmony in Red)
Movement	Fauvism, Modernism
Patron(s)	Sergei Shchukin, Albert C. Barnes

Henri Émile Benoît Matisse (31 December 1869 – 3 November 1954) was a French artist, known for both his use of color and his fluid and original draftsmanship. He was a draftsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known primarily as a painter. Matisse is commonly regarded, along with Pablo Picasso, as one of the artists who best helped to define the revolutionary developments in the plastic arts in the opening decades of the 20th century. Responsible for significant developments in painting and sculpture, Matisse is often regarded as one of the leading figures of modern art.

Early life and education

Matisse was born in Le Cateau-Cambrésis, in the Nord department in France. He grew up in nearby Bohain-en-Vermandois, where his parents owned a flower business. In 1887, he went to Paris to study law, working as a court administrator in Le Cateau-Cambrésis after gaining his qualification. He first started to paint in 1889, after his mother brought him art supplies during a period of convalescence following an attack of appendicitis. He discovered "a kind of paradise" as he later described it, and decided to become an artist, deeply disappointing his father.

In 1891, Matisse returned to Paris to study art at the Académie Julian and became a student of William-Adolphe Bouguereau and later of Gustave Moreau. Initially, he painted still-lifes and landscapes in a traditional style, at which he achieved reasonable proficiency. Matisse's style changed completely following a visit to Australia in 1896–1897, where he was influenced by the work of J. M. W. Turner.

Fauvism

Matisse is regarded as the leader of the Fauvist movement, a loose group of early 20th-century modern artists whose works emphasized painterly qualities and strong color over the representational or realistic values retained by Impressionism. The movement, which included artists such as André Derain and Maurice de Vlaminck, was short-lived, lasting from 1904 to 1908, but had a significant impact on the development of modern art.

Later works and legacy

After the decline of Fauvism, Matisse continued to develop his style, experimenting with different techniques and media. His later works include the famous cut-outs, a technique he began using in the 1940s after surgery left him unable to paint. These works, such as The Snail and Blue Nude II, are characterized by their bold use of color and simplified forms.

Matisse's influence on modern art is profound. His work is celebrated for its vibrant use of color and innovative approach to form and composition. He has been the subject of numerous exhibitions and retrospectives, and his works are held in major museums and collections around the world.

Personal life

Matisse married Amélie Noellie Parayre in 1898, and they had two sons, Jean and Pierre. The family lived in various locations in France, including Paris, Nice, and Vence. Matisse's relationship with his wife became strained, and they separated in 1939.

Death

Henri Matisse died of a heart attack on 3 November 1954 at the age of 84 in Nice, France. He is buried in the cemetery of the Monastère Notre Dame de Cimiez, near Nice.

See also

• Fauvism
• Modern art
• Pablo Picasso
• École des Beaux-Arts
• Académie Julian