Henri Matisse: "Dance"

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The works of Henri Matisse play an impressive role in the work of both French and world expressionists. The artist became the founder of one of the most progressive movements at that time - Fauvism. One of the most famous canvases painted in this style is the masterpiece that Matisse created - "Dance".

About the artist

Henri Matisse was born in 1869 in the north-eastern part of France in the family of a merchant. After studying at school, the young artist moved to Paris, where he continued his studies in the speci alty "jurisprudence". After working as a lawyer for some time, Matisse became disillusioned with his monotonous profession. The turning point was Henri's illness. After an operation to remove an acute appendicitis, he tried to brighten up his pastime by painting.

With the permission of his father, Matisse devoted himself to the study of fine arts at the Académie Julian. However, relations with the master Adolphe Bouguereau did not work out and Henri changed his educational institution to the School of Fine Arts. Henri's mentor was the outstanding teacher Gustave Moreau. Here is Matissemet and struck up a good relationship with Albert Marquet and Georges Rouault - future fellow thinkers. Since the end of the nineteenth century, the artist has been participating in exhibitions.

Creativity

It is noteworthy that Henri Matisse, whose "Dance" glorified the author primarily as an expressionist, began his creative activity as an impressionist. However, gradually, experimenting with the colors of his works, giving preference to ever brighter colors, the artist comes with his own trend - fauvism. In this direction, the famous exhibit was written, which Matisse released from under the brush - “Dance”.

So the master begins to paint in his famous genre. Intense colors and minimalist figures become constant companions of Henri Matisse's work. In addition, a great reflection on the future canvases of the artist was his passion for the sculpture of African and Japanese peoples, as well as, as the master himself repeatedly admitted, national Russian motifs.

After long journeys along the Mediterranean coast and observing the surrounding nature, Henri only strengthened his conviction that it is the simplicity in his works that can evoke a storm of emotions and feelings.

Famous painting

Among all the famous paintings of the artist, the panel painted by Matisse - "Dance" invariably stands out. This work was painted in oil in 1910. As the story goes, this canvas was commissioned by the famous Russian collector Sergei Ivanovich Shchukin fordecorating the interior of his estate. The history of this painting is rather scandalous.

Before sending the canvas to the customer, Henri Matisse exhibited it at the Salon, where critics spoke unflatteringly about the frank plot of the work. Moreover, visitors found the picture too simplistic. Indeed, the canvas depicts five completely naked people who are dancing, tightly holding each other's hands, as Matisse depicted them.

"Dance" is written using only three colors - red, green and blue. However, such a combination and compositional solution gives the impression that these figures are in constant motion. Despite the first impression of the simplicity of the canvas, the artist clearly traced every detail of his work. There is no play of shadows in this picture, but some depth, expressed by color reproduction, seems to signal the strength and swiftness hidden in the canvas, which are depicted as dance and music. Matisse, with his bold decision to discard the superfluous, brought unprecedented fame to his picture. It is worth noting that the theme of dance has been raised in art more than once. It is in the decision of Henri Matisse that she becomes a landmark in European art of the twentieth century.