Lady on a Terrace 1907

Henri Matisse made this painting, *Lady on a Terrace*, with oil on canvas; it's now hanging in the Hermitage. The way the colours are just plopped down, not fussed over, gives a sense of immediacy. It’s like he's saying, “Here it is, this is how I see it, take it or leave it.” Look at that red railing, how it pops against the blue sea! He just slapped it on there. You can almost feel the bristles of the brush. The orange blanket over her lap is also lovely. But the real magic is in how he flattens everything out. The perspective is all wonky, which makes the whole scene feel like a dream. Matisse’s bold approach paved the way for artists like David Hockney, who also weren’t afraid to bend reality to suit their artistic vision. Ultimately, art is about seeing the world in new ways, and Matisse does just that. There's no correct way to see it!