Conversation 1912

Henri Matisse painted "Conversation" with oils, sometime around 1908. It's like, what is this scene? He's wearing pyjamas, she's wearing a dress, is it outdoors or indoors? The whole thing is swimming in this sea of blue, which could be paint, sky, or water. The paint isn't too thick here, though you can see the brushstrokes. The flat planes of colour remind me of the Fauves, that wild beast tendency to paint what you feel, not what you see. Look how the green lawn outside is dotted with orange, creating a dynamic visual rhythm. The black lines of the balcony feel like they're vibrating against the blue backdrop. There is something child-like about this painting, but also full of thought. Matisse, like Picasso, had so many different phases, and he just kept exploring new territory. You could see the way he's simplifying form here, setting the stage for his later cut-outs. It's all connected, this endless conversation between artists across time.