Henri Matisse is an artist who is known for his use of color and expressive, fluid draughtsmanship. He was a pivotal figure in the development of both Fauvism and modernism, and his work had a significant impact on other artists.
Matisse was born in Le Cateau-Cambrésis, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France to a family of modest means. His father was a former soldier who worked as a bookkeeper for a textile manufacturer. Matisse initially studied law at the insistence of his father, but after a few months he switched to art, taking classes at the Académie Julian in Paris. He was particularly influenced by Impressionists such as Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro, as well as Post-Impressionists such as Paul Cézanne and Georges Seurat. In 1905, he visited Algeria which had a profound impact on his work; he developed an interest in Islamic art and architecture which became apparent in some of his later works.
Matisse continued to explore new ideas throughout his career; some critics believe that it was at this time that he achieved what they consider to be his greatest works. He died in 1954 at the age of 84.
