Moorish Woman 1922 - 1923

Henri Matisse’s ‘Moorish Woman’ is a painting made with oil on canvas, where a figure emerges out of a background buzzing with colour and pattern. I can just imagine Matisse, in the heat of the moment, layering those colours, pushing the boundaries of representation, while still holding onto something real. The way he's built up the surface, those luscious violets, reds, and greens, are just so alive! The woman’s gaze seems to hold a question, an invitation, and a challenge. There’s a conversation happening, not just between the figure and the ground, but also between Matisse and other artists, from Delacroix to the Fauves. I mean, we all stand on each other’s shoulders, right? Painting is this ongoing, never-ending dialogue across time. It’s about finding your own voice, your own way of seeing, while being part of something bigger.