Cagnes, Landscape in Stormy Weather 1917

Henri Matisse made this landscape, Cagnes, Landscape in Stormy Weather, with oil on canvas, and it’s all about feeling the weather through color and gesture. Look how he builds the composition with these big, juicy brushstrokes. The lower half is all vibrant greens, like the world is holding its breath, waiting for the storm to break. Then, your eye travels up to those heavy, grey clouds, painted with a kind of rough tenderness. It’s like he’s wrestling with the canvas to capture the weight of the sky. I love how the pink peeks through those clouds, hinting at the light that’s still there, even in the midst of the storm. Matisse is always great at capturing a sense of fleeting moments with minimal brushwork, like Morisot or even Manet, but in his own distinct way.