Le Petit pêcheur, Maintenon 1918

Henri Matisse made ‘Le Petit pêcheur, Maintenon’ with oil paint, and you can almost feel the swish of the brush as he worked. The green palette is so alive, it’s like the painting is breathing. The paint is laid on pretty thick, like he's sculpting the scene as much as painting it. Look at the way the light catches on the surface – those little peaks and valleys of paint create a real sense of depth. There’s one stroke of darker green that makes the bank of the stream, it’s so casual, but it totally defines the space. You can see the brushstrokes moving, almost like a dance. It’s not about hiding the process, but celebrating it. The casualness reminds me a little of Bonnard, that kind of loose, domestic intimacy. Matisse is less overtly sentimental, and more interested in the pure pleasure of color and light. Ultimately, it’s a painting that invites you to slow down, breathe deep, and just be in the moment.