Standing Moroccan in Green (Standing Riffian) 1913

Henri Matisse painted "Standing Moroccan in Green," also known as "Standing Riffian," using oil on canvas. The immediate visual experience of this portrait is one of striking contrasts. The figure's green robe dominates the canvas, set against a backdrop of cool blues. Matisse destabilizes traditional representation through bold color choices, creating a formal tension that challenges fixed meanings. The vibrant yellows and oranges of the figure's skin and headdress clash intentionally with the surrounding greens and blues, disrupting any sense of naturalism. This use of non-local color is not merely decorative; it serves to flatten the picture plane, emphasizing the painting’s constructed nature. The brushstrokes are visible and expressive, further highlighting the materiality of the paint itself. This emphasis on the formal elements of color and texture over realistic depiction embodies a shift towards abstraction that reflects broader artistic concerns of the early 20th century. The painting invites us to reconsider our expectations of portraiture and engage with new ways of seeing.