Woman with a Hat 1905

Editor: We're looking at Henri Matisse's "Woman with a Hat," painted in 1905 and currently housed at SFMOMA. It’s an oil painting with this really striking impasto texture, and I’m immediately drawn to the almost aggressive use of color. What are your initial thoughts? Curator: For me, it's fascinating to consider the materials within their historical moment. Oil paint itself, readily available yet painstakingly applied, embodies a tension. The thick impasto suggests a certain urgency, almost like an act of defiance against the smooth, idealized surfaces of academic painting. We also can't ignore the social implications of portraiture at this time. Who was the woman? What was her relationship to Matisse, and what statement were they making by flaunting convention in this way? Editor: That's a really interesting point about the act of defiance. Do you think the materiality of the paint, its texture and the way it's applied, is directly linked to that rebellious spirit? Curator: Absolutely. Look at how the color is used, not to realistically depict the subject, but almost as a material exploration in itself. This shifts the focus away from traditional representation and highlights the labor, the choices, and the very 'thing-ness' of the painting itself. This directly challenged the artistic hierarchy where skill was prioritized over creative material handling and contextual expression. Is Matisse celebrating the pure agency involved in artistic labor and materials handling in such a rapidly industrializing, alienating world? Editor: I've never thought about it that way, seeing the material choices as a statement about labor. So much to think about in this work beyond just the colors! Curator: Precisely. Considering art through the lens of materiality and the production involved can unlock fascinating insights into both the artist’s intentions and the broader cultural landscape. Editor: That’s really given me a new perspective on the painting; considering how Matisse is using the very act of painting as part of his statement!