Notre Dame 1914

Henri Matisse made this painting of Notre Dame, probably in the early 20th century, with a focus on the act of seeing. The painting isn't about perfect architectural accuracy, right? It’s more like a collection of quick, intuitive gestures. Look at the colors – they're not trying to mimic reality. The river's a mix of blues and yellows, almost abstract. Matisse isn't being fussy with details; there's a raw, immediate feel to it. Notice that single, dark line he uses to define the edges of the buildings. It's almost like he's scribbling in space. Then, there's the sky – loose washes of color that give a sense of depth without being too literal. Matisse reminds me a bit of Philip Guston who embraced a similar freedom of line and colour in his work. This painting is like a visual diary, capturing a moment in time and the artist's experience of it. It’s about the joy of seeing, not just what is seen.