Young Girl in a Green Dress 1921

Editor: We are looking at Henri Matisse's "Young Girl in a Green Dress" from 1921. The girl is painted with quick brushstrokes. What jumps out is the flattened perspective and interesting color choices. How would you interpret this piece? Curator: I find the subject of "the young girl" significant, and also think the setting is relevant. Looking through a historical lens, this portrait is evocative of the interwar period in Europe. It displays Matisse’s commitment to decorative schemes. Consider the ways that wealth and taste are embodied here – are they subtle? Or, overt? Editor: They definitely feel overt. Her dress, the rug, and especially that elaborate dresser. Was this type of patronage common then? Curator: Yes, and portraiture held immense socio-political power for the sitter as well as the artist. What I find interesting is that Matisse appears to disrupt tradition, as this is a seemingly domestic portrayal with very vibrant colours and decorative, flattening patterns. Do you think there's a kind of tension created? Editor: Absolutely, the perspective seems intentionally skewed, drawing attention to the artifice of the painting. Curator: Exactly! The politics of imagery here, and especially Matisse’s treatment of it, become all the more intriguing. Editor: It makes me think about who could afford art lessons and that kind of display in their home in the 20s! I'll definitely look at Matisse with a more critical, historical eye from now on. Curator: It’s exciting to think how even familiar paintings such as this offer insight into socio-political backdrops.