Emoile Matisse, a prominent artist born in 1869, is widely recognized as a highly influential figure in 20th-century art and the leader of the Fauve group. The Fauvism movement, started by French artists in the early 1900s, is distinguished by its bold and often distorted forms combined with vibrant colors. Matisse’s unconventional presentation of objects and use of vivid hues resulted in his affiliation with this artistic community. Nevertheless, critics during that period harshly condemned him and other artists who shared similar styles, considering them “disgraceful” to the realm of art. As a result, they affectionately referred to themselves as “The Fauves” or “Wild Beasts,” proudly embracing their chosen label.
The artists in the Fauvism movement aimed to break free from the rigid style of Impressionism by incorporating vivid colors and their own unique interpretations of shapes. Matisse’s work focused on the concept of “leaving out,” where the viewer’s mind can imagine the missing elements such as dimension, details, and plastic forms. The Fauves expressed their joy for life and art through their paintings. Fauvism was seen as a radical art style in the early 20th century and influenced future artistic movements.
Henri Emoile Matisse was born on December 31, 1869 in Le Cateau, France. Despite being from a middle-class background, he initially pursued a career in law. However, his plans changed when he fell ill with appendicitis in 1890 and was confined to bed rest. During this time, Matisse used his free time to study painting. To help alleviate boredom during this period, his mother gave him a paint box which ignited his newfound love for art. In 1893, Matisse’s artwork caught the attention of Gustav Moreau, a renowned French painter famous for his unique Symbolist style. Three years later, Matisse showcased his creations at the Salon de la Societe Nationale.
In 1903, Henri Matisse discovered pointillism through the works of Henri Edmond Cross and Paul Signac. Pointillism is a technique developed by French painters Georges Seurat and Paul Signac in the late 19th century. It involves using small dots or strokes of pure color on the canvas. When observed from afar, these dots blend together to produce the illusion of various colors and increased brightness. Matisse adopted this style in his own art, resulting in bold and lively images.
In 1905, Matisse, along with Andre Derain and Maurice de Vlaminck, displayed their artworks for the first time. Critics called this exhibition les fauves, or “the wild beasts”. The artwork I have chosen to examine, The Goldfish, created in 1912, is a great example of what I believe Matisse is renowned for.
The main structure of The Goldfish composition seems to primarily consist of diagonal lines, with a few vertical ones. For example, the leaves, plant leaves, and the whitish-blue railing in the foreground all have a tilt towards diagonal lines. Furthermore, the stems of the leaves in the upper right-hand corner create a seventy-degree angle, while the plant stems to the right of the leaves have varying angles ranging from fifty to ninety degrees. The primary vertical line can be found at the base of the table where the fishbowl is positioned. Additionally, due to its shape and placement within the picture, the fishbowl itself mainly exhibits vertical organization.
In the center of a round pinkish table sits a fishbowl that captivates the main focus of this piece. The bowl, larger and vertical, is not the ordinary fishbowl one would expect. It is square-like in shape, wider and longer, resembling a very large glass. Inside the bowl swim four orange goldfish. Behind the fishbowl, there are very large plant leaves along with pink flowers and green plants floating on a pink wall. Positioned to the left of the table, there is an object that could be either a railing or an arm of a chair. The bottom right and center of the bowl are in front of a predominantly black background. In the immediate right-hand lower corner, a few green leaves with pink flowers catch the eye. It becomes evident that Matisse intends for the goldfish bowl to be the focal point of the painting.
It is fascinating how Matisse skillfully portrays fish suspended in water. The positioning of the fish creates an illusion of movement; while one fish faces towards the viewer, the other three are positioned at an angle, giving the impression of a live fishbowl. Furthermore, Matisse incorporates the orange reflection of the fish on the top of the bowl, providing a unique perspective as if viewing the bowl from above and at an angle.
According to my analysis, the fishbowl depicted in the painting can be described as both idealized and abstract due to its prominent size. Although the fishbowl accurately replicates a real one, it appears larger than life and lacks clear definition. Matisse skillfully captures the reflection of the background plants in the back portion of the fishbowl, effectively adding depth to the image. This sense of depth is mainly achieved by the presence of a black background on the right side and surrounding the entire table.
However, the presence of plants surrounding the top of the fishbowl and the pink background above it creates a flatness that limits the depth. As a result, the illusion of spatial recession is prevented. The painting features repeated plants and flowers, mainly green leaves and pink flowers. Two plants in small yellow-brown pots are placed on opposite sides of the fishbowl on the table.
The plant on the left has bigger, green oblong leaves, while the plant on the right has smaller, yellow oblong leaves that seem to be wilting. The overall image is visually intricate and busy in certain areas, but empty and lacking in others. What truly makes the painting remarkable and eye-catching are its vibrant and bold colors.
Fauvism, despite its brief existence, brought about a significant transformation in the art industry through the introduction of a novel mode of expression. Artists belonging to this movement firmly believed that emotions could be effectively conveyed through color, especially when utilized in a non-representational manner. As a result, numerous Fauvist artists relied on color as an influential instrument for expressing their sentiments.
Henri Matisse embodies the epitome of this movement by showcasing artistic freedom through his bold utilization of colors and unconventional color arrangements. With Fauvism at its helm, this artistic style has paved the path for subsequent movements such as Cubism and continues to influence contemporary artistic styles.
Reference
- “Matisse, Henri Emile Benoit,” Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2003http://encarta.msn.com 1997-2003 Microsoft Corporation.
- The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth EditionCopyright 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
- Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
- “Matisse, Henri Emile Benoit,” Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2003http://encarta.msn.com 1997-2003 Microsoft Corporation.
- http://www.the-artfile.com/uk/index.htmhttp://www.the-artfile.com/uk/index.htm”Matisse, Henri Emile Benoit,” Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2003http://encarta.msn.com 1997-2003 Microsoft Corporation.
