Regarding 20th-century art, Henri Matisse’s paintings are regarded as some of the most influential and significant. Along with the works of Duchamp and Picasso, Henri Matisse’s artwork was said to redefine art in the early years of the previous century. Matisse’s art was initially produced in the style of the Fauvists but would subsequently go on to produce works that were considered to uphold the French Classic tradition. Below, let us examine the most famous Matisse paintings and find out a little more about the artist himself!
An In-Depth Exploration of Famous Matisse Paintings
Henri Matisse was a multi-talented individual who dabbled in sculpture, painting, and printmaking. He was originally regarded as one of the “wild beasts” or Fauves, a group of artists that were often met with derision from art critics. However, his style changed over the following decades as it evolved into a more classical style that was lauded by the public and critics alike. Yet, the influence of his initial work in Fauvism was also regarded as significant and should not be overlooked. Before we look at the most celebrated and most famous Matisse paintings, let’s quickly introduce you to the man behind Henry Matisse’s artwork.
Introducing the Incredibly Talented Henri Matisse
| Artist Full Name | Henri Émile Benoît Matisse |
| Nationality | French |
| Date of Birth | 31 December 1869 |
| Date of Death | 3 November 1954 |
| Place of Birth | Le Cateau-Cambrésis, France |
As a young boy, Matisse grew up in Le Cateau-Cambrésis, a town in Northern France. The town was particularly renowned for its mills that produced wool and Matisse was born into a family that had been weavers by trade for many generations. The visual language of Matisse’s art is believed to have been heavily inspired by the textiles that surrounded him early in life, such as the fabrics and carpets that he had accumulated from places such as the Middle East and Africa, along with other regions in Europe. Initially, the artist pursued his studies in law before deciding to pursue art as a career. He began to take part in the Salon exhibits which were held in Paris after studying under the famous painter Gustave Moreau.
Between the years 1900 and 1905, he produced some of his most renowned Fauvist works. Decorative patterns and flattened forms became the hallmark of his work produced after 1906, and he worked to perfect this style for around 10 years. It was in the 1920s that his work started to move closer to the classical style that was highly renowned in France at the time. In the decade after that, he began to produce forms that were bolder and simpler in design. While Henri Matisse’s art style may have changed through the years, every period of his artistic journey is regarded as having contributed to the world of art in a very significant way.
Our List of Famous Henri Matisse Paintings
For over 50 years, Henri Matisse produced a considerable body of work that is still highly admired today. One cannot deny the huge influence that Henri Matisse’s art had on the world at large. From Henri Matisse’s portraits, through his works in the Fauvism style, and to his more traditional works, every aspect of his career subsequently helped to change the art world in the 20th century. The best way to gain an appreciation for his significant influence on the art world is to explore a few of his most notable works of art.
Luxe, Calme et Volupté (1904)
| Artwork full name | Luxe, Calme et Volupté |
| Date Completed | 1904 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions (cm) | 98 x 118 |
| Current Location | Musée d’Orsay, Paris, France |
During the early years of his formal studies, Matisse often produced works in the style of the Old Masters. Initially focusing on Impressionism, he eventually moved on to Post-Impressionism before pushing the creative envelope with his Fauvist works. Before being categorized as one of the Fauves, he avidly collected the works of renowned artists like Gauguin and Van Gogh, which were said to have heavily influenced his style over the years. These influences are quite evident in his earlier works such as this example. The artwork was also clearly inspired by Signac’s divisionist technique in which the image is composed of numerous dots of paint.
However, Matisse opted to use small dashes instead of dots in this work. It was produced in a period when Matisse was still exploring various other styles and is significant in the way it departed from the typical representation of scenes, prioritizing color over the accurate depiction of objects and scenes. The artwork’s title, which emphasizes luxury, tranquility, and pleasure, depicts the easygoing and relaxed lifestyle that the artist wished to convey. The title of the paintings was actually taken from a poem by Charles Baudelaire. The reduction of detail is a common feature of Fauvist scenes, in which painters established artificial compositions that distort our sense of reality.
Woman With a Hat (1905)
| Artwork full name | Woman with a Hat |
| Date Completed | 1905 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions (cm) | 81 x 60 |
| Current Location | San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, California, United States |
One of the most well-known of Henri Matisse’s portraits, it is believed to be a portrayal of Amelie, his wife. It serves as a perfect example of Matisse’s unique application of non-natural colors, which at the time was often met with great opposition, but ultimately proved to establish a new way of coloring in art. Critics initially described the appearance of the woman’s face as being too “mask-like”. Others felt that the separation of the colors and non-natural color choices made the works look like they were created by a child.
Amelie is depicted wearing an elaborate French outfit, with a fashionable hat on her head as well as elegant gloves on her arms. While there are parts of her outfit that may appear to be filled with various colors, she was said to have stated that she was wearing black when the artwork was produced. This artwork also represents a shift in style in Henri Matisse’s paintings. The loose brushstrokes give the work an unfinished appearance, and this marks his turn toward a more expressive style of painting. Today, this famous Henri Matisse artwork can be found in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Joy of Life (1905)
| Artwork full name | Joy Of Life |
| Date Completed | 1905 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions (cm) | 176 x 240 |
| Current Location | Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, United States |
When this artwork was first exhibited, its lack of consistency in style shocked critics to such a degree that many felt it spelled the end of French art. However, over the years that have followed, it has grown to become recognized as a vital example of early modernist art. After the exhibit, the artwork was bought by Leo and Gertrude Stein. The Steins’ home was also the place where many artists would gather every week to share their ideas. Naked people are portrayed frolicking in the grass, playing music, and dancing in a brightly colored environment.
His style of painting in this piece was significantly distinctive from his prior artworks, and he incorporated elements from other painters such as Gauguin and Cézanne. One very interesting aspect of this artwork is the group of people that can be seen dancing in the background. The same theme would appear in another one of his most renowned works, The Dance (1910) five years later. In this artwork, as with other Fauve paintings, the colors used correspond exclusively to emotional expression, not to reality. There is also no regard paid to the scale of the individuals in the artwork. Whereas the two women in the middle should be significantly smaller than those in the foreground, here they are almost identical in size.
The Green Stripe (1905)
| Artwork full name | The Green Stripe |
| Date Completed | 1905 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions (cm) | 40 x 32 |
| Current Location | Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, Denmark |
This work gets its name from the green strip that splits Amelie’s face in half, which the artist used to create a feeling of shadow, light, and volume without the use of conventional shading techniques. This was regarded as highly contentious at the time and many critics disliked it immensely. In fact, even friends of Matisse felt that the image was rather disturbing and could have reflected issues in their relationship. He forces his subject close to the picture plane, practically into the audience’s space, resulting in a dynamic interaction between the subject’s apparent depth and the artwork’s flat surface. This famous Matisse painting’s color palette is bright, saturated, non-natural, and emotive.
The prominent green in the background balances and highlights the red of her clothing, whereas the lighter green hue that defines the left side of her face thrusts itself forward from the rich red-orange surroundings. This unnatural use of color underscored the artist’s desire to make art for the sake of the joy of creation rather than having to abide by traditional standards and expectations. Color, according to the artist, ought to invoke distinct moods and feelings in those that view them. The vibrant blues, greens, oranges, and yellows employed in this work present people with a dramatic visual experience that draws them into the canvas.
Open Window, Collioure (1905)
| Date Completed | 1905 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions (cm) | 55 x 46 |
| Current Location | National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., United States |
It may be relatively small, however, this Matisse artwork is still regarded as an iconic example of early modernist art and among the most significant Fauvist artworks. First exhibited in 1905 at the Salon d’automne, it was among the works displayed by several Fauve artists who were met with considerable scorn and derision. It is said that the exhibition rooms were filled with the sound of laughter when these works were first seen by critics and the public. The work’s beauty belies its conceptual complexities, in which traditional depiction is replaced by other artistic concerns.
There is barely any interplay between light and dark and instead, the artwork is saturated with intense colors. The artist handled the paintbrush uniquely in each part of the painting – the window, the inside of the room, the balcony, and the view of the harbor outside – producing the appearance of pulsing cross-rhythms. Matisse was working with André Derain near the border of Spain when this piece was produced. It was in this same space that one of Donatello’s sculptures was being displayed, which led to one critic stating that it was surrounded by wild beasts (or Fauves), which is where the group got its name from.
The Dessert (Harmony in Red) (1908)
| Date Completed | 1908 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions (cm) | 180 x 220 |
| Current Location | State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia |
While many regard this to be among the artist’s most renowned pieces, he was known to have simply dismissed it as a “decorative panel”. It was originally commissioned for Sergey Shchukin’s dining room. While these kinds of decorative patterns were often criticized in art, Matisse included them as an essential aspect of his work. Indeed, he adored painting flat interiors filled with patterns and everyday items in his captivating colors, as he did with this famous painting. Based on the work’s initial title, it was originally meant to be rendered in blue, yet he subsequently decided to paint it in red.
The recurring patterns of the designs on the wallpaper and tablecloth are replicated in the background through the window, connecting the cozy interior with the colder outdoors. Given the flatness of the red tone, Matisse was still able to create the illusion of space inside it. The wall almost seems to seamlessly blend into the fabric, with only a thin line indicating the border of the table, while the fold of the material at the table’s corner is barely visible at the bottom left of the painting. It is now recognized as a celebration of decoration and pattern, and scholars regard it as one of the most impressive representations of the Fauve style.
The Dance (1910)
| Artwork full name | The Dance |
| Date Completed | 1910 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions (cm) | 260 x 391 |
| Current Location | Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia |
Sergei Shchukin was a patron of the arts and a businessman from Russia. He was also one of Matisse’s closest friends and he commissioned the artist to produce two works for his personal collection. This painting, depicting the pure joys of dancing, was the first of these paintings to be produced for the Russian patron. The artist depicted several people dancing in a circle with the figures rendered in red and outlined in black. The style of the artwork has often been described as childlike. The piece was said to have been inspired by several other paintings featuring the same theme, such as those produced by William Blake.
The other work that Matisse produced for the Russian was titled Music (1910) and shares many similarities with this work. The background colors are very similar, yet here, the figures are seated and either playing or listening to music. In many ways, the style of these works served as a reaction to the emerging art form of photography. Matisse felt that since photography could so accurately portray life, art would need to convey something more expressive. During the Russian Revolution, the state took away these two works, and were not to be seen for many years. As with many other Henri Matisse artworks, the focus was on the figures and there was very little regard for the accurate portrayal of perspective.
The Red Studio (1911)
| Date Completed | 1911 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions (cm) | 162 x 219 |
| Current Location | Museum of Modern Art, New York City, United States |
The artist’s studio is depicted in this famous painting, however, it is believed that his studio wasn’t even red and that he just liked this color very much. This Matisse artwork is distinguished by the extensive application of this color, which covers the floor, the walls, and a number of different objects found in his studio. As is typical of Fauvist artworks, this application of color helps to add a feeling of warmth and energy to the piece. A noticeably unconventional aspect of this piece is the way in which the artist approached perspective and space. Upon observing this artwork, one gets the impression that everything depicted in this studio exists on a single plane, as all the furnishings and other objects are rendered in a two-dimensional and flat manner.
Thus, this work challenges certain notions in Western art, such as perspective and depth. One of the most notable aspects of this piece is that it features many of the other artworks that Matisse produced previously, including many of his famous paintings and sculptures. This allows the viewer to step into a world that was commonplace to the artist, yet produced in a way that challenged our usual perception of perspective. This departure from the traditional depictions of forms was regarded as a hallmark of Fauvism and encouraged many other artists to explore this style.
Goldfish (1912)
| Date Completed | 1912 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions (cm) | 140 x 98 |
| Current Location | Pushkin Museum, Moscow, Russia |
Around 1912, Matisse started to produce several works with goldfish as the topic. It was apparently in Morocco that he witnessed how the local people would often stare for hours at the goldfish swimming around in their bowls. For him, this reflected the contemplative and laid-back nature of certain places, and these fish came to symbolize these tranquil experiences. He even produced another work in 1913 that focuses on people intently watching fish in a bowl titled Le café Maure. However, it was not in Africa that this work was produced, but rather in a little town not far from Paris back in France. In September 1909, Matisse rented a huge house with a lovely garden near Issy to get away from the stresses of life in Paris.
As a result, what we see in this painting are his own possessions, such as his selection of plants and the fish tank. The color of the fish initially draws the viewer’s interest. The vibrant orange stands out against the more subdued green and pink tones surrounding the fish tank as well as the blue and green background. The technique of using complementary colors next to each other was one often embraced by those working within the Fauve style. The viewer is invited to enjoy the pleasures of observing the fish’s beautiful movement and vibrant colors in this Matisse artwork, making it both appealing and engaging.
Large Reclining Nude (1935)
| Date Completed | 1935 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions (cm) | 87 x 115 |
| Current Location | Baltimore Museum of Art, Maryland, United States |
This famous Henri Matisse artwork depicts a naked figure lying in a room with a flower vase and a chair. Lydia Delektorskaya, the artist’s lover, is said to be the model used in the painting. One cannot help but notice that her head seems disproportionately small when compared to the rest of her figure. As with many other famous Matisse paintings, the figure represented here is rendered in one solid color. The flat colors offer very little detail, only outlines indicated by darker lines that offer the illusion of form on the figure itself. While we can still make out the application of oils in the somewhat different tones of color inside each section of the figure, there is an obvious development towards his subsequent cut-out works, when eventually just one tone would be used for the entire body.
That brings our list of famous Matisse paintings to a close. As we have seen, Matisse’s artwork spanned many decades and changed dramatically over time. While his initial experimentation with the Fauvist style was harshly criticized at first, today we recognize what a vital role it played in changing the face of art in the early years of the previous century. At first, labeled among the “wild beasts”, he is now regarded as among the most significant figures in 20th-century art who helped push art into the modernist era.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Were Henri Matisse’s Paintings Criticized Initially?
When a new art trend arises, critics may typically need time to adjust to the new style and understand its purpose. The initially overwhelming shock of discovering something so distinct led many critics to put down the Fauvist style and its artists. Fauvist paintings sometimes lacked the amount of detail associated with traditional academic art. Because of their apparent disdain for fine detail, critics scorned Matisse for being inept as an artist. Matisse’s paintings embraced the use of non-naturalistic colors. Some critics, familiar with more muted and realistic color palettes, found Matisse’s deviation from traditional color application surprising and even gaudy.
What Characterizes Henri Matisse’s Artwork?
While Matisse’s art changed over the many decades that he was actively making art, he is most associated with the Fauvism movement. Fauvists emphasized emotional expression and as a result, their works of art were characterized by a flattened perspective and simpler shapes. Many critics found it difficult to accept this abandonment of traditional representational approaches, since it went against their idea of art and how it should look. However, this is not the only style Matisse worked in, and he would later return to a far more traditional style.
