5 Tips to Appreciate the Art of Henri Matisse: More Than Just Color and Form
Henri Matisse is often remembered for his bold colors, simplified forms, and expressive cut-outs—but to truly appreciate his work, one must look beyond the surface. His art invites not just observation, but immersion—into a world where feeling, thought, and form are inseparable. Here are five ways to deepen your understanding and appreciation of Matisse—his art, his world, and what he still teaches us today.
1. Start With the Man Behind the Masterpieces
To understand Matisse’s art, start with Matisse himself. Born in 1869 in northern France, he came to painting relatively late, after studying law. A long illness in his twenties led him to pick up a paintbrush—and from there, his world changed. Knowing that Matisse lived through wars, revolutions in art, and his own health struggles adds emotional depth to his joyful colors. His art was often a response to pain—not an escape from it, but a transformation of it.
“What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity…” —Matisse
That serenity wasn’t born from calm, but from chaos, tamed by creativity.
2. Let Color Speak—Even When It Screams
Matisse’s color choices were revolutionary. Instead of mimicking nature, he used color to express emotion. In his Fauvist period, colors seem almost aggressive—unnatural greens for skin, fiery reds for walls. But this wasn’t carelessness; it was intentional liberation. Matisse was freeing color from realism, giving it a life of its own.
Tip: When viewing a Matisse painting, ask yourself: What does this color make me feel? The answer may reveal more than you'd expect.
3. See the Simplicity, Not Simplicity as Less
Matisse once said he wanted his work to be “like a good armchair” for the viewer—inviting and restful. But that doesn’t mean simple equals superficial. His late-career cut-outs, for instance, seem playful, even childlike—but they were the result of decades of distilled vision. He used scissors like a sculptor, shaping light and movement with paper.
What looks effortless is often the result of long, invisible effort. Let go of the urge to decode or judge—just spend time with the work, and let it work on you.
4. Understand the Cultural and Historical Context
Matisse lived in a time of seismic shifts: industrialization, two world wars, the rise of modernism. He traveled to North Africa, absorbed Islamic art influences, and befriended Picasso—his greatest rival and mirror. Matisse’s work reflects these intersections: tradition and innovation, East and West, chaos and calm.
The flatness in his compositions echoes Japanese prints. His decorative motifs nod to textile traditions. His studio became a kind of cultural crossroads—and his paintings, passports to a reimagined visual world.
5. Take Inspiration, Not Imitation
Matisse's most enduring lesson might be this: art is a way of seeing. You don’t have to paint or draw to learn from him. Notice how he distilled complex scenes into color and shape. Practice seeing the world around you not for what it is, but what it feels like. Try writing a journal entry in colors. Rearrange your room with Matisse’s sense of balance. Let his vision reawaken your own.
In Closing
To appreciate Matisse is to appreciate life—its rhythm, contradictions, and beauty. His art is not just to be looked at, but to be lived with. When we understand the person, the period, and the purpose behind his work, we not only see Matisse more clearly—we see ourselves more clearly, too.