Moroccan Café 1913

Henri Matisse made "Moroccan Café" with paint, at some point, but I couldn’t tell you exactly when. What I can tell you is how the painting feels so immediate, like it was done in one sitting, or maybe several sittings where he was really in the zone. The paint is thin, almost watery in places, letting the canvas breathe. It’s like Matisse wasn’t trying to hide his process, but rather put it right up front. Look at the figures – their shapes are simplified, almost childlike, but there’s a sophistication in how they relate to each other and the space around them. That’s Matisse being Matisse, taking something complex and making it seem effortless. There’s this moment, just to the right of centre, where a man is touching a fishbowl with his right hand. I wonder what he’s thinking. I think it’s all about openness and not being afraid to let things be unresolved, and that's what makes art so alive. I think about what he would think of Milton Avery.