Two Girls, Red and Green Background 1947

This is Henri Matisse's "Two Girls, Red and Green Background," painted in 1947. The figures and forms are boldly outlined in dark strokes, each hue asserting itself with a vibrancy that seems to hum against the others. Just imagine Matisse standing here, brush in hand, carefully judging the weight of each color. Did he place the red first, then let it dictate the cool blues and greens? Or was it the other way around? The painting has a sense of being a back-and-forth between sensation and observation, and the freedom to change one’s mind. See the way he used the background color, how it seeps into the foreground, creating an interesting contrast. The colors are so alive! It's like Matisse is showing us that painting isn't just about copying what you see, but about feeling, about letting color and form speak to each other. In a way, we are all having this conversation with Matisse when we paint!