Open Window at Collioure 1910

Henri Matisse made this painting, Open Window at Collioure, as a kind of experiment in seeing, of how we can make sense of a place by how we handle the colour and the feel of the paint itself. It’s all about that luscious process! Look at how he’s laid down the pink of the floor, so flat and bold, against the grey walls. The colours vibrate against each other, creating a kind of energy that makes the room seem alive. And then, through the window, he gives us a glimpse of the world outside, a jumble of greens and blues that feels almost abstract. See the pink hill in the background? It’s like he’s turned the world inside out, showing us how colour and form can create a whole new reality. Matisse reminds me of Morandi, but with a tan. They both share this sense of art as an ongoing investigation, a conversation across time about how we see and experience the world. It's not about answers, but about the questions we ask.