He emerged as a Post-Impressionist
Although interested in Cubism, he rejected it, and instead sought to use color as the foundation for expressive, decorative, and often monumental paintings.
Matisse used pure colors and the white of exposed canvas to create a light-filled atmosphere in his Fauve paintings.
His use of color and pattern is often deliberately disorientating and unsettling.
Having seen several exhibitions of Asian art, and having traveled to North Africa, he incorporated some of the decorative qualities of Islamic art, the angularity of African sculpture, and the flatness of Japanese prints into his own style.
The human figure was central to Matisse's work both in sculpture and painting.
Although interested in Cubism, he rejected it, and instead sought to use color as the foundation for expressive, decorative, and often monumental paintings.
Matisse used pure colors and the white of exposed canvas to create a light-filled atmosphere in his Fauve paintings.
His use of color and pattern is often deliberately disorientating and unsettling.
Having seen several exhibitions of Asian art, and having traveled to North Africa, he incorporated some of the decorative qualities of Islamic art, the angularity of African sculpture, and the flatness of Japanese prints into his own style.
The human figure was central to Matisse's work both in sculpture and painting.