Antoinette with Long Hair c. 1919

Henri Matisse made this pencil drawing called 'Antoinette with Long Hair'. Look at the way he's built up the face with layers of delicate marks. You can almost feel the concentration, the gentle pressure of the pencil on the paper. What do you think he was thinking about as he drew? Did he want to capture her likeness, or was he after something more elusive? Something about her essence, perhaps? He’s really vibing on her hair! Check out those flowing lines that cascade down her shoulders. It makes me think about the way we describe people’s emotions, like, 'letting your hair down'. Maybe he saw something untamed and free in her spirit. You know, drawing is about feeling as much as seeing; it’s like he’s trying to understand her from the inside out. Matisse went on to inspire so many artists after him. He was in conversation with artists from the past and reaching into the future. He shows us that art is not just about what you see, but how you feel and how you interpret the world around you.