View of Collioure 1908

Matisse made this painting, View of Collioure, with oils, and wow, is it a feast for the eyes! The colours feel like they’ve been squeezed straight from the tube, unapologetically vibrant. There’s a real directness in how he’s applied the paint - you can feel the energy of his hand as he lays down each stroke. Look at the thick, almost sculptural quality of the paint in the trees. The dark greens and blacks are so dense, they almost jump off the canvas. And then, in contrast, the background feels lighter, airier. See how the yellow and ochre hues blend together, creating a sense of warmth and light that seems to glow from within. It’s like he’s captured the very essence of the Mediterranean sun. You can see echoes of Van Gogh in the expressive brushwork and bold colour choices, but Matisse takes it to a whole other level of intensity. He reminds us that painting is about so much more than just representation, it's about feeling, about experience, and about the sheer joy of making.