Henri Matisse 1869 1954 Background Born in France

Henri Matisse 1869 -1954

Background • Born in France in 1869. • Had little interest in art during school. • Began his career as a lawyer.

Background • Fell ill while practicing law. • Passed the time painting while recovering from illness. • Decides to become an artist. • Gave up law, moved to Paris after recovery.

• Paris: the place to be if you were an artist in the 1890’s. • Surrounded by fellow artists… • The Post Impressionists: Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne. • Post Impressionist: an artist of the Post Impressionist school who revolted against Impressionism.

Matisse’s Artwork • Heavily influenced by the Post Impressionists. • Began using bright colors in his paintings. Dance, 1097 • Soon became part of the Fauve Movement. Portrait, 1911 Woman, 1905 Green Line, 1909

The Fauves “wild beasts” Paul Gaugin, Self Portrait “Mountains at Collioure, ” André Derain, 1905. Landscape at La Ciotat, 1907 Georges Braque, 1909 “Boats in the Port of Collioure, ” André Derain, 1905.

Matisse’s Artwork Began to reduce shapes and flatten colors to express the essence of his subjects (figures). Woman With Fower Vase, 1933 • Began to work with “Color Sensations”: shapes and the spaces around them. Music, 1939

Matisse’s Artwork • At age of 72, a major operation nearly killed him. • Could no longer stand at an easel to paint. • Cut shapes out of paper with scissors. • Worked from his imagination. • Created an environment of cut paper in his studio… walls, ceiling, and floor.

“Finally, I have found the most direct way to express myself…the paper cutout. ” -Henri Matisse

Important Ideas to remember… • Was part of the Fauve Movement in France. • Simplify subject matter to show it’s basic qualities. • Discovered the “essence” of his subjects , and created shapes to express them.

Quotes • “What I am after, above all, is expression. ” • “The truly original artist invents his own signs. ” - Henri Matisse

Pink Nude Black Leaf on Green Woman with a Hat Blue Figure, White Figure The Window Blue Nude The Green Line Untitled. Cut Paper Collage

Matisse-Inspired Cut Paper Abstractions You will use your knowledge of shape, negative & positive space, and visual balance, to create a cut paper abstraction.

1 st: Brainstorm Possible Paper Expansions For Example….

2 nd: Start Sketching! • In your sketchbook, create 4 boxes

(2 per page). Begin creating possible designs using SHAPE ONLY.

3 rd: Draw final design on Contrasto paper very lightly! 4 th: Cut out design using X-acto knife. 5 th: Transfer shapes to opposite side & stick to base board.

Examples