Nude 1919

This nude, by Henri Matisse, is made with watercolor and pencil. It is all about the process. The marks are tentative and searching, not trying to define the forms too much, but almost caressing them with a light touch. The palette is restrained, mostly warm tones with hints of yellow in the hat and green in the background, giving the work an intimate and sensual feel. The paint is thin and transparent, allowing the surface of the paper to show through, and the pencil lines add a sense of immediacy, like the artist is trying to capture a fleeting moment. Look at the way Matisse suggests the folds of the fabric with just a few simple lines. There’s a fluidity in the way he works that reminds me of Egon Schiele, both artists are interested in capturing the emotional intensity of the human form. Art is always an exploration of ideas.