Interior with a Violin 1918

Henri Matisse made this oil on canvas painting of an interior with a violin, and the date is unknown. Notice how Matisse approached mark-making with a sense of freedom, using colours intuitively, like a kid, to create a harmonious balance. The painting has a wonderful tactile quality, the texture and colour really bring a depth and richness to the space. Look at the way the thick black paint in the centre defines the room and contrasts with the blues of the case and the whites of the open window. See how the light floods in. It reminds me of someone like Pierre Bonnard, who was interested in capturing intimate, domestic spaces. Both artists share a similar sensitivity to colour and light, using paint to evoke emotions and create a sense of atmosphere. Ultimately, art is a conversation and exchange of ideas across time, and its beauty is it's ambiguity.