The Blue Nude (Souvenir of Biskra) 1907

Henri Matisse made 'The Blue Nude' in 1907 using oil on canvas. The strokes feel so intuitive, like he's letting the process guide him. You can see the marks of his brush dancing across the surface, especially in the way he models the figure. Looking at the body, the paint is laid on in these transparent washes, but then he comes back with thicker, opaque strokes to define the contours. See how the blues and greens around her melt into the background, creating this dreamlike space? I'm really drawn to how the red of her nipple stands out against the cool blues of her torso. It's like a little spark of energy. Matisse was clearly looking at Cezanne, especially his bathers, but he's pushing the boundaries even further here, experimenting with colour and form in a way that feels totally new. It just goes to show that art is always building on what came before. It's an ongoing conversation.