Vase of Amaryllis 1941

Henri Matisse made this painting of a vase of amaryllis and some fruit with oil on canvas. You can see the loose brushstrokes, how the different colours meet and sit next to one another, popping out, creating a tension. Imagine being Matisse, in his studio. I bet he was thinking about color, and how it could be both descriptive and expressive. I think the petals are wonderfully balanced with the fruit. See how the color and rhythm create this amazing sense of space. It's like the table is tilting and the objects might slide off! But Matisse makes it work. Matisse often painted still lifes like this, exploring how simple objects could become vehicles for exploring form, color, and emotion. It’s as if he wanted to turn painting into a feeling. And that's why his paintings still excite us, inviting us into his world. What do you think?