I found the journey through Matisse's life's work very filled so I wanted to review his life to observe his inspiration and its influence on his career through multiple art movements; to help me better understand the drive for his more abstract work and view the evolution of art movements that occurred.
Matisse was a painter, sculptor, draughtsman, decorator and theorist.
Matisse's interest in painting started at the age of twenty-one in 1890 when he was gifted a set of paints; and his prominent style develops over the course of forty years; his work on his famous paper cut- outs, began late on his career in 1947.
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William- Adolphe Bouguereau
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Gustave Moreau
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Matisse started by following the artistic influence by his tuition with William-Adolphe Bouguereau, and later Gustave Moreau in 1891.
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Emile Wary
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However, his independent development was initially influenced when he met Emile Wary, his neighbour in 1896, he observed the luminosity he achieved using primary colours, which Matisse preferred to his colour pallet.
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Vincent Van Gogh
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| John Peter Russel |
Later, in 1897 he found the Impressionism style and Van Gough's work, introduced to him by painter John Peter Russell.
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| J.M.W Turner |
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The Three Bathers
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From then on Matisse was inspired, yet again after being married and viewing the paintings of Turner, on his honeymoon in London.
Activated by Turner's expressive use of colour as well as Matisse's great inspiration: Cezanne, and Cezanne's- work which he owned from 1899: 'The Three Bathers', Matisse established that: change in his artistic values was essential for his progression.
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'Luxe, Calme et Volupte' - Matisse, 1904
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In 1904, Mattise showed that in his work had developed his influence form Neo- Impressionists and Post- Impressionists to create a new style conveying the sense of joy and tranquillity; and amongst the other striking works in the famous show at the Salon d'Automne was described as 'a real fireworks display' by critic Louis Vauxcelles whom supposedly made the remark: 'Ah- Donatella au milieu des fauves'- 'les fauves' meaning wild beast. The term stuck and this became the starting point of the movement that Matisse became the force of: Fauvism- which only just predicated the beginning of Cubism, led by Picasso.
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From this controversial quote in the 'Notes' of 1908, it is apparent that Matisses' work is used purely, to bring joy and as an escape as he doesn't like to work on 'troubling or depressing subject matter'.
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Like Van Gough, Matisse was a Northern European and inspired by the Mediterranean climate, specifically it's colours. To find inspiration, Matisse used the landscapes and people from his travels; his trip to Morocco in 1911, became the inspiration for his 'Odalisques series and upon visiting Nice in the winter and staying on as it grew Sunnier and warmer, Matisse fell in love with and began returning to the South of France for inspiration (just like the artist from the illustration workshop: Jack Penate).
Information References:
- Book: Artists By Themselves Matisse
- https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/art-history-henri-matisse
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