Belle Isle Tempête 1896

Henri Matisse captured this tempestuous coastal scene on canvas during his time in Belle Isle. The painting is dominated by a dynamic interplay of cool blues and grays, punctuated by rough brushstrokes that mirror the sea's chaotic energy. Note how the composition is structured into layers: the dark, solid landmasses at the top, the turbulent sea in the middle, and the textured foreground. These horizontal bands create a sense of depth, while the vigorous application of paint suggests movement and instability. Matisse’s use of color and form here can be interpreted as a move away from traditional representation towards a more subjective expression of nature. The visible brushwork and simplified forms do not just depict a scene, they evoke the raw, untamed power of the storm. It is through this very tension between representation and abstraction that the work finds its expressive force.