The Closed Window 1919

Henri Matisse made this painting of a closed window with oil paint. Look at how he's built the composition with these broad strokes of colour. It’s like he’s thinking through the scene, one loaded brushstroke at a time. The texture of the paint is really present, especially in the way he builds the sky and landscape we see through the glass. He uses thin layers in some parts, and thicker, more opaque daubs in others. Note how the colours interact: the blues and greens inside play off the yellows and browns of the view outside. See that little red patch of carpet in the foreground? It’s like a burst of energy, anchoring the whole scene. It reminds me of Morandi, who also sought the extraordinary in the everyday. Ultimately, art is about keeping the conversation going. Embracing ambiguity is key. There's not just one way to see.