The Green Blouse 1936

Henri Matisse made "The Green Blouse" with oil paint on canvas. He applied lots of thin layers so that some areas feel almost translucent, like you could see right through the green blouse! I wonder, when Matisse painted this, was he thinking about colour relationships, or was he mostly trying to capture something about the feeling of the model? Maybe both? Look at that white hat, how it tips forward and casts a slight shadow across her face. It's such a simple gesture, but it gives her face a real sense of depth. The pink in the hat is also in the background, making a visual connection. I love the orange of the chair, which vibrates against the green blouse. Matisse really pushed the boat out when it came to colour, freeing it from any need to be 'realistic'. It reminds you that all artists are in an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity. Ultimately, painting is a form of embodied expression which embraces ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations and meanings.