Portrait of Margurite sleeping 1920

Here we have a painting of Margurite sleeping, made with oils by Henri Matisse. There’s something very beautiful in the way the different patterns and color fields are laid out in a flattened perspective. Matisse is not trying to create a photo, but a feeling of being immersed in colour. You can almost feel the texture of the brush on the canvas, thick and luscious. Look at the skin tones, painted with subtle, fleshy hues of pink and beige. Then notice the vivid reds of the lips and the way the shadows give her face volume. Every stroke feels intentional, yet spontaneous, like a dance between control and letting go. The yellow wallpaper and blue robe remind me of the work of Bonnard. I can almost feel the touch of his paintings here - it's like an ongoing conversation between artists. Ultimately, I am reminded that art is never really finished, only abandoned, and that maybe, the real beauty of it lies in its openness.