Repose Among the Trees 1923

Henri Matisse painted Repose Among the Trees with oil, and he was really interested in how color and pattern could express feelings. I love how the red path on the left draws you in, and then the woman is just there, lounging in the middle of the canvas. Her yellow shirt is so bright compared to the dark greens surrounding her, which seems odd in this scene, but this color makes her the focal point. Matisse’s brushstrokes are pretty visible, especially in the foliage, making the forest feel alive and dense. Check out the blanket she's reclining on! The red and white pattern flattens the space, and makes me think about how much of painting is pure invention. He makes color and line work together, using it to express a mood, or an emotion. Look at this painting, and then go check out some Vuillard, another painter that explores the tension between the real and the artificial. Painting is all about making stuff up, right?