The White Feather 1919

Curator: Looking at Henri Matisse's "The White Feather" from 1919, an immediate sense of quiet contemplation washes over me. What do you see first? Editor: The hat. It's HUGE, a white explosion against that almost aggressive red. It’s like a cloud landed on her head and brought the drama. The rest is kind of muted in comparison, isn't it? Curator: Interesting. For me, it's about the construction of femininity at that time. Matisse used oil on canvas to depict not just a woman, but an idea of womanhood, the white feather becoming a symbol, an artifact. The materials become the message. Editor: See, I read it completely differently. The lady in the portrait feels…sad? Lost? Maybe she’s playing a role, hiding behind that feather boa. The colours clash so strongly, and it’s making me think this work represents some intense conflict between appearance and emotion. Curator: Well, given its place in Post-Impressionism, you might be right. The artist isn't attempting realism here. Notice the flatness of the colour blocks; the almost abstract way he treats form, almost pushing it into pure surface design and considering its mass manufacture as fine art for interior décor. Editor: It makes me question, "Who is she really, underneath it all?" She is consumed by that overpowering piece of plumage; what it could say about wealth, position, or just plain performance. I am still hung up on that sense of something bubbling underneath. It is powerful. Curator: Considering the social context then is fundamental. World War One had just ended, and you see here this tension, an undercurrent that speaks to post-war anxieties and redefinitions. Consumption on display like the mass manufactured "feather boa" almost dares the viewer to judge it as excessive. Editor: All right, you've made me think about the feather differently! Maybe it's not a cloud, but more like armour. A bright, fluffy shield. Thanks for bringing up its time. Now that I notice it I understand and, also, respect the artist more. Curator: Exactly. It reveals itself through its history. And isn't that exactly why these works endure and give pleasure even now. Editor: Yes, I agree with your sentiment, it speaks of its context but is beautifully constructed with its own drama.