Les Caloges, Etretat 1920

Henri Matisse made Les Caloges, Etretat, using oil paint to capture a moment on the coast of France. The paint is applied in blocks of color, almost like tiles fitted together, building up the image with simple shapes. Look at the way he handles the color; it's not about being realistic, but about capturing a feeling, a mood. The sand is painted with such a fleshy, pinkish tone, that contrasts with the darker boats, making them feel heavy, present, almost ominous. That one little yellow boat in the distance feels so playful! It’s like a tiny burst of sunshine amid the muted greens and grays of the sea and sky, and offers an unexpected, but uplifting contrast. You know, when I look at this, I can’t help but think of someone like Milton Avery, with that same approach to simplifying forms and using color to evoke a sense of place. There's a real conversation happening between these artists, a shared language of feeling expressed through color and form.