Reader on a Black Background 1939

Henri Matisse made Reader on a Black Background with oils on canvas. Looking at this painting, I can almost feel the hush of the room, the concentration of the reader lost in thought. The thick black background pushes everything forward, making the colors pop. I’m wondering, was Matisse trying to capture not just what he saw, but what he felt? The red of the woman’s skin is echoed in the reflection, like a little stage set. He layers the space with paintings within paintings: a nude, a still life, a portrait. Look at how he defines space with planes of color, each area distinct and vibrant. It's like he's saying, "Here's what I see, but also how I see it." Matisse’s work reminds me of how we all borrow and transform. It is a constant exchange across time.