View of Antibes 1925

Henri Matisse painted this coastal scene with oils, and you can see the Mediterranean light in the high key blues, creams, and greens. Look at how the paint sits on the canvas in choppy strokes, it's so textural. I can imagine Matisse standing in the sun, squinting as he dabs paint onto the canvas, trying to capture the shimmering light on the water. There's a real energy here, a sense of the artist grappling with the scene, and a looseness that feels totally fresh. It reminds me of some of my own painting struggles! That curving path on the right is just gorgeous, a real foil for the boats, beach, and sea. It's like a stage set, almost flat, and yet it defines the space. It is through paintings like these that Matisse dialogues with artists across time, and the Fauvist movement comes alive in an exchange of bold colors and experimental mark-making. It’s a total invitation into a world of seeing, thinking, and feeling.