The Clown 1943

Henri Matisse made this paper cut-out, The Clown, in his later years, using bold shapes and simple forms that speak volumes. It’s less about what it is and more about how it feels to create, to cut, to arrange. Look at the red slashes across the clown’s white body – they're so immediate and full of energy. Matisse isn't trying to trick us with realism; he’s playing with shapes and colours, letting them do the talking. The solid blacks and yellows, the cut-out form of the clown, they all push and pull against each other. It reminds me of how Joan Miró used to approach painting, where shapes float and dance, creating their own kind of visual language. Ultimately, art is a conversation, an ongoing dialogue between artists across time and space, each adding their own voice to the mix. It's not about having all the answers but about asking the right questions.