Young Woman Playing Violin 1923

Henri Matisse painted this intimate scene of a ‘Young Woman Playing Violin’ using oil on canvas. Look closely, and you’ll see the playful strokes that define the palm trees outside the window, and the broad sweeps of colour that define the ocean and sky. It’s like he’s inviting us into his process, showing us how he builds up the image, layer by layer. What strikes me is the way Matisse uses colour and texture to create a kind of emotional landscape. The red and white stripes of the balcony create a visual rhythm, and the muted blues of the sea contrast with the vibrancy of the interior. The paint feels thin and fluid, almost like watercolor, allowing the canvas to breathe. The way Matisse handles the light, capturing the way it filters through the window, reminds me of Bonnard, but with a bolder, more graphic sensibility. Ultimately, Matisse reminds us that art is about seeing, feeling, and responding to the world in all its messy, beautiful ambiguity.