Still Life after de Heem's 'La Desserte' 1915

Henri Matisse made 'Still Life after de Heem's 'La Desserte' as an homage to an earlier still life painter, and it's like he’s saying, "Let's see this again, but my way." There's a real joy in the way he lays down those colors and shapes, each one a little surprise. The painting has this amazing sense of texture, even though it's just paint on canvas. I’m drawn to how he renders the tablecloth, with those loose, gestural strokes. The white of the cloth is not just white; it’s got hints of blue and green that make it feel almost alive, shimmering in the light. It's like he's not just painting what he sees, but also what he feels and knows about light, color, and form. Matisse reminds me of other colourists like Bonnard. They both had this knack for making the ordinary sing with color, transforming everyday scenes into something extraordinary.