The works of Henri Matisse play an impressive role in the work of both French and world expressionists. The artist became the founder of one of the most progressive movements at that time - Fauvism. One of the most famous paintings written in this style is the masterpiece that Matisse created - “Dance”.
About the artist
Henri Matisse was born in 1869 in the northeastern part of France in a family of a comedian. After studying at school, the young artisan moved to Paris, where he continued his studies in the specialty "jurisprudence". After working as a lawyer for some time, Matisse was disappointed in his monotonous profession. The turning point was the disease of Henry. After the operation to remove acute appendicitis, he tried to brighten up his pastime with drawing.
With the permission of his father, Matisse devoted himself to the study of fine art at the Julian Academy. However, relations with the master Adolf Bouguereau did not work out and Henri changed his educational institution to the School of Fine Arts. Mentor Henri was an outstanding teacher Gustave Moreau. Here Matisse met and struck up a good relationship with Albert Marche and Georges Rouault - the future odnomodtsami. Since the late nineteenth century, the artist has been participating in exhibitions.
Creation
It is noteworthy that Henri Matisse, whose “Dance” glorified the author primarily as an expressionist, began his creative career as an impressionist. However, gradually, experimenting with the color scheme of his works, giving preference to increasingly brighter colors, the artist comes with his own current - Fauvism. In this direction, the famous exhibit was written, which released from under the brush of Matisse - “Dance”.
So the master begins to paint in his famous genre. The constant accompanying works of Henri Matisse are intense colors and minimalist figures. In addition, a great reflection on the future canvases of the artist was his passion for sculpture of African and Japanese peoples, as well as, as the master himself has repeatedly admitted, national Russian motifs.
After long journeys along the Mediterranean coast and observation of the surrounding nature, Henri only strengthened his convictions that it was the simplicity in his works that could cause a storm of emotions and feelings.
Famous painting
Among all the famous paintings of the artist, the panel that Matisse wrote “Dance” invariably stands out. This work was painted in oil in 1910. As the story goes, this canvas was painted to order by the famous Russian collector Sergei Ivanovich Schukin to decorate the interior of his estate. The history of this picture is rather scandalous.
Before sending the painting to the customer, Henri Matisse exhibited it in the Salon, where critics unflatteringly commented on the frank plot of the work. Moreover, visitors found the picture too simplistic. Indeed, the canvas depicts five completely naked people who dance, holding each other tightly in hands, as Matisse depicted them.
"Dance" is written with just three colors - red, green and blue. However, this combination and compositional solution gives the impression that these figures are in constant motion. Despite the first impression of the simplicity of the canvas, the artist clearly painted every detail of his work. There is no shadow play in this picture, but some depth, expressed by color rendition, as if signals the strength and swiftness hidden in the canvas, which are depicted as dance and music. Matisse, with his bold decision to discard the excess, brought unprecedented glory to his picture. It is worth noting that the theme of dance has been raised in art more than once. It was in the decision of Henri Matisse that she became iconic in European art of the twentieth century.