Flowers 1919

Henri Matisse made this painting, 'Flowers', and well, it’s hard to pin down exactly when, but you can see how he was working things out in paint. The texture's kind of scumbled, not too thick, but definitely present. The light in this piece is just gorgeous, isn't it? It's almost like he's building up the light with these layers of color, especially in the vase, with the yellows and golds blending together. There’s a kind of shorthand to the brushstrokes, like he's just suggesting the forms rather than defining them. Look closely at how he handled the edges of the flowers; they're soft, almost dissolving into the background. And the flowers themselves. Each one is made with just a few strokes, but somehow, they come to life. I think he knew something about how we perceive color and form, trusting the viewer to complete the image. It's like a conversation between the artist and the viewer, a dance of seeing and feeling. It reminds me of Bonnard, but with a touch more zing. It's this invitation to really look, and in looking, to feel something too.