Still Life With Lemons 1943

Henri Matisse made this still life with lemons sometime in the 20th century. Right away, you see how the pink just pops, a wild ground for the lemons and flowers to do their thing. I love how Matisse just goes for it with the paint, not trying to hide his process. The colors feel thin in places, like he's letting the canvas breathe. Look at the vase – it's all rough edges and quick strokes, but somehow, it totally works. He's not trying to trick you into thinking it's real; he's showing you how he sees it, a feeling more than a picture. It reminds me a bit of Morandi, that Italian painter who also loved everyday objects, but Matisse is way more loud and proud with his colors. It’s like he’s saying, "Here's a painting, not a window. Deal with it!" And I love that. It’s a reminder that art is always a conversation, a back-and-forth between what we see and how we feel.