Polynesia, La Mer 1946

"Polynesia, La Mer" (1946) by Henri Matisse is a vibrant gouache on paper work that exemplifies the artist's late style. The composition features a checkered background in contrasting teal and purple hues, upon which Matisse places simplified, white cut-out forms of marine life. These stylized representations of sea creatures, plants, and fish showcase Matisse's signature use of bold, flat colors and simplified forms, creating a visually engaging and rhythmically pleasing pattern. The artwork, now housed in the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris, embodies the essence of Matisse's Fauvist origins while embracing the freedom of abstraction.