Standing Nude 

Henri Matisse made this painting, Standing Nude, with oil on canvas. Matisse embraced painting as a craft, pushing its traditional boundaries. Here, you can see the hand of the artist in every brushstroke. The visible texture of the canvas and the bold, expressive marks create a tactile quality. Rather than obscuring the labor involved, Matisse celebrates it. He engages with the tradition of nude painting, but there is a casualness here, a sense of immediacy, as the model is caught between poses. Matisse was deeply influenced by the textiles and decorative arts of North Africa, and their influence shows in the way the background patterns in this painting are brought forward into a dialogue with the figure. Ultimately, this is an object made to be consumed. The artist’s work is sold through dealers and acquired by collectors, adding layers of value onto the canvas. We see the work of the artist's hand, and recognize it as just that: work.