Woman with a Red Umbrella 1919

In "Woman with a Red Umbrella" Henri Matisse conjures a scene with thin layers of oil paint, giving it a breezy feeling. Imagine him, brush in hand, squinting at the light as he builds up the image. A red umbrella is echoed by the red checkered floor and the red striped tablecloth. I can almost feel the hot Mediterranean sun. This red pulls my eye through the painting and I’m captivated. Matisse is like a magician, turning simple shapes into an entire world. You get the sense that he just wants to let loose and have fun, playing with the push and pull between reality and imagination. He knew that the best paintings are like open doors, inviting us to step inside and make ourselves at home. Matisse shows us that painting is a process of endless discovery.