Ivy in Flower 1953

Henri Matisse’s *Ivy in Flower* is a celebration of colour and form. The combination of cut paper, bold colours and a clear compositional structure suggests a joyous kind of artmaking. The intense yellow background hums with energy, creating a field within which the shapes of leaves and flowers can playfully come to life. Matisse’s choices aren't attempts to replicate nature but rather to evoke its essence. The flat planes of colour invite us to reconsider how we perceive depth and space, pushing us beyond a literal representation towards something more felt than seen. Take a closer look at the lower left corner. See how Matisse arranges the colours, allowing the green leaves to intertwine with the yellow and pink. The whole feels like a carefully orchestrated dance, a composition where each element supports the others. Matisse’s work reminds me of Etel Adnan’s tapestries in the way they both flatten and heighten the world we share. Just like Adnan’s weavings, this piece offers us not answers but possibilities; it’s a space for our eyes to wander and our minds to play.