Meditating Monk 1903

Matisse painted this ‘Meditating Monk’ with oils. Brown, ochre, and putty colors merge into a figure. You can see the brushstrokes pulling across the canvas. I imagine Matisse building up the surface, step by step, with his brushstrokes defining the volume. The monk’s hands are clasped, all pale pink, while his long beard and hair is almost straw-like, and seems to glow against the brown of his robe. The painting feels like it’s about structure, color, and texture. Matisse, like other painters, was interested in how the paint itself could create a feeling. You might think of Cézanne, or even Courbet, whose brushstrokes also brought a sculptural presence. The history of painting is one long conversation, isn’t it? We’re all inspired by, and react to, one another. And that's what I love about painting; it's not about answers, but about the questions we ask, together.