Artist Henri Matisse, Essay Example

1. What style of art is the artist known for? Describe the style of art.

Henri Matisse was one of the leaders of a group of modern artists in the early 20th century who practiced a style of art called ‘fauvism’. Fauvistic paintings were characterized by bold colors, chaotic brush strokes and objects painted in a very simple and somewhat abstract manner. As a painting genre, it is often grouped as a type of expressionism.

2. How did the artist learn his trade? Did he attend collage? Did he apprentice to a professional? Tell me more about it.

Matisse studied art in Paris at the Académie Julian. He apprenticed under William-Adolphe Bouguereau and Gustave Moreau. He started his career by painting still-lifes and landscapes. He was highly influenced by the works of Simeon Chardin, who was a French painter well know for his still life paintings. After to a visit to painter, John Petter Russell, he was introduced to Impressionism, as a style, and changed his work completely.

3. Name six interesting things you learned about this artists life.

Henri Matisse was one of the creators and leaders of the Fauvism artistic movement. He first started to paint when his mother bought him art supplies to keep him busy while sick with an appedicitis. He was good friends with Pablo Picasso. He initially went to school to study law. He operated an art school in Paris from 1907-1911, called Academie Matisse. He was married for 41 years and had 3 children.

4. Name a piece of art that is well known by the artist,then describe what you think the artist wanted you think or feel when looking at the art. this must be a full paragraph.

One of Matisse’s most famous paintings was called “The Joy of Life”. He painted this between 1905 and 1906, with oil paint on canvas. The painting uses the very strong colors and simplistic images, which were characteristic of most of his works. The painting shows lots of different people doing things that make them happy. When I look at the painting it helps me realize that there are many different sources of happiness in life. It also makes me realize that different people find joy in many different things. I think this was the intent of Matisse.