Oysters and Wooden Armchair 1943

Henri Matisse made this painting of oysters and a wooden armchair with oil on canvas. It’s like he’s inviting us into his world, showing us a glimpse of his day, one brushstroke at a time. I am really drawn to how the objects are rendered with such a flat directness, like a child might paint them, and yet they are so full of character. The red zigzags of the armchair act like a visual echo of the organic forms around the plate of oysters. Matisse is not afraid to let the yellow background peek through, creating a wonderful tension between the objects and the space they occupy. The brushstrokes are loose and confident, each one a deliberate mark that adds to the overall energy of the composition. Looking at this, I can't help but think of Bonnard, another master of color and light. Both artists share a love of the everyday, finding beauty in the simplest of subjects. For both, art is an ongoing conversation, a dance between observation and invention, where the possibilities are endless.