Nude 1919

This is Henri Matisse’s ‘Nude’, painted with oil on canvas, though we don’t know when exactly. What I find striking is the way that the light just *pools* on the surface, like it's been caught in a net of color. Look at the red and white rug. The way it is painted looks like gouache, but it is oil paint. The paint is applied thinly, in layers, in some sections, but built up quite thickly in other areas. The overall effect is one of a flat, almost decorative surface, which belies the depth and complexity of the painting. I just want to dive right into that red and white rug with those bright white lines on the edges. I’m reminded of Bonnard, though Matisse certainly has his own language and inflection. Ultimately, this is a work that embraces the beauty of ambiguity. It invites us to see the world through a filter of sensation and feeling.