The Three O'Clock Sitting 1924

Henri Matisse made "The Three O'Clock Sitting" with oil on canvas, and it’s like stepping into his studio, right? I love the way he's not afraid to just lay down color, flat and bold. It's all about the joy of painting, the pure act of making. The model’s blue dress is a field of polka dots, painted with such casual confidence. You can almost feel the brush dancing across the canvas. Look at the floor, that orangey red! It vibrates against the cool blues of the window, pulling your eye around the scene. And how Matisse uses line, especially in the easel, is so casual! I think of Bonnard. His intimate interiors, the way he captured daily life with such vibrant color – you can see a real conversation happening. It is like they are speaking to each other across time.