Pianist and Checker Players 1924

Here, in *Pianist and Checker Players* Matisse makes a domestic scene his own through the intuitive application of bold colour and pattern. See how the vivid red of the wallpaper seems to push forward, creating a flattened, almost claustrophobic space. It's like he's inviting us to reconsider how we perceive depth and perspective. The brushstrokes are visible, energetic, and the colours are laid down in a way that feels both deliberate and spontaneous. Take, for example, the pianist's yellow dress – a simple shape, but the way it catches the light, with those subtle variations in tone, brings the whole composition to life. There’s a tension here, a balance between the decorative and the representational that feels very particular to Matisse and his process. Think too of Bonnard, and how he uses pattern to activate the whole surface of the canvas, creating a total environment. It’s all about seeing, feeling, and letting the painting do its thing.