Le Grand Bois 1906

Matisse made this lithograph, Le Grand Bois, with ink on paper, and it’s a great example of how a simple line can do so much. Check out how he uses these bold, almost woodcut-like lines to define the figure of a woman reclining. The lines are thick and thin, confident, and create shapes and shadows with just a few strokes. It's like he's thinking out loud, and we get to see his process in each mark. Look at the hair, how these lines almost vibrate with energy, right? The background's all these wiggly lines, playing off the figure. It makes you wonder about the space she’s in - is it a forest, a room, or just a feeling? This reminds me of Picasso, playing with form and space. Matisse, though, he keeps it light. It’s all about the joy of seeing and making. Art, for him, is about the questions, not the answers, and this print is like a big, beautiful question mark.