Henri Matisse: Art Is Life

Henri Matisse: Art Is Life

Henri Matisse is perhaps the most popular of the Fauve painters. Fauve painters were independent from any other schools of thought and were consumed with working with vibrant color and simple designs. Influenced by non-European cultures, the Fauve movement was rather short-lived but significant in the art world. Unexpected shapes and colors reveal not only a new way of looking at things but a new way of expressing them as well. Words to describe this movement are spontaneous and verve. Color becomes the defining characteristic in most Fauve paintings, with artists embarking on journeys unencumbered to express themselves with brilliant color. Matisse, like any other artist, grew and developed over time and while many artists eventually abandoned the Fauve movement, Matisse remained loyal to the general foundation of vibrant color and expressive shapes. Two paintings that reveal how Matisse's style changed over the years are the Open Window, Collioure and the Dance. These paintings illustrate how art, like artists, evolve over time.

Fauve paintings are recognized by their vibrant, unmixed colors. In addition to this, shapes are not conventional; instead, they are rather simple and defined by broad-brush strokes. The result of these types of design reveals a sense of spontaneity and vitality. The Open Window, Collioure represents this new tradition. The piece is considered a modernist by some but it is no doubt one of the forerunners in the Fauve movement. In "Notes" Matisse speaks about his painting style. He writes:

The chief function of color should be to serve expression as well as possible. I put down my tones without a preconceived plan. If at first . . . one tone has particularly seduced or caught me . . . I will notice that I have respected this tone while I progressively altered and transformed all the others. The expressive aspect of colors imposes itself on me in a purely instinctive way" (Matisse qtd. In Flam 41).

Here we see a liberal use of color. The sea, the sails, the window, and the walls all have distinctive color. Matisse maintains, "My choice of colors does not rest on any scientific theory; it is based on observation, on sensitivity, on felt experiences" (42). While this painting explores the Fauve experience, it is also worth noting that there are no people in this particular piece of art.

After 1908, Matisse was still open to exploring with color and lines. His travels influenced his style and while he remained true to his Fauve foundation, his art matured in that it became more human. In other words, he began to bring forms that are more human into his art. He traveled to Africa, Spain, and Germany and even studied in Russia, where he was exposed to Islamic art. The Dance is one painting that captures a new direction and style of Matisse's painting. Here Matisse is focusing on a single act of humanity. The style is more compact in it use of color. The interplay of human activity is one of the most significant changes we see in Matisse's work. The colors in this piece seem to work more with each other as a whole than they do in the Open Window, Collioure. The shapes could also represent the Eastern influence that we see can be traced backed to the kind of style used in rugs or other decorative pieces. This paining looks as though it is complementing life itself. It is also worth noting that the Dance is completely focused on pleasure. In the Dance, we also see colors and shapes that create an organic whole. The distorted bodied create a rhythm and energy that replicates movements of dance in general. The orange-colored bodies against the bluish background create a dynamic tension. Many believe that this type of dynamic is what allows us to believe that these figures are alive -- or at least once were. They move, stretch and appear to glide to music that is unheard. While the music is silent, we can see it in the bodies of these characters. This painting is much different from the Open Window, Collioure in presentation and meaning yet it still clings to the traditional Fauve elements by remaining colorful and vibrant with verve.