Interior With an Etruscan Vase (Intérieur Au Vase étrusque), 1940, Poster by Henri Matisse

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Henri Matisse (1869-1954)

Interior with an Etruscan Vase (Intérieur au vase étrusque), 1940

"I have always tried," wrote Matisse, "to … Read more Henri Matisse (1869-1954)

Interior with an Etruscan Vase (Intérieur au vase étrusque), 1940

"I have always tried," wrote Matisse, "to hide my own efforts and wished my works to have the lightness and joyousness of springtime." He achieved that aim in this canvas, painted in Nice during the early months of World War II. A tapestry design hangs behind the woman, while the window to the right is covered in black. The oak table, a light wood with a natural finish in real life, is painted black and green, thereby transforming it into a decorative shape that anchors the center of the composition.

Matisse used glowing color and decorative shapes to infuse this image of his apartment in Nice with a feeling of quiet, meditative relaxation. Dedicated to Fauvist principles, Matisse continued to liberate color from nature by using explosive hues and lively, imaginative design. This print depicts a woman in a brightly colored Moroccan costume sitting behind a table, surrounded by luxurious plants and works of art. The neutral black table anchors the brilliant colors of the orange vase and red curtain.

Henri Émile Benoît Matisse (31 December 1869 – 3 November 1954) was a French artist. Particularly known for his striking use of colour, Matisse is one of the very few indisputable giants of modern art, alongside Pablo Picasso and Wassily Kandinsky. See less