Venus 1952

Henri Matisse made this Venus using paper and gouache. Here, the approach to colour and mark-making feels so confident, like a jazz musician riffing on a theme. Look how the blue surrounds, and almost becomes, the creamy Venus figure. The colour isn't just 'on' the paper, it's part of the whole process, a physical presence that sculpts the space. There's something so direct about this piece. Matisse uses simple materials, yet the shapes he creates are so evocative. I’m drawn to the edge where the blue meets the cream, a line so clean and sharp it almost vibrates. It’s a reminder that art is about the joy of making, of playing with form and colour until something unexpected emerges. Like Ellsworth Kelly, Matisse simplifies forms to their essence, inviting us to see the world with new eyes. It's open ended, a conversation, not a lecture.