Still Life 

Henri Matisse created this ‘Still Life’ using oil paint in a pointillist style. The vibrant dabs of colour across the canvas, from fiery oranges and reds to earthy greens and browns, evoke an almost palpable energy. Matisse's application of colour creates a dynamic surface, where objects blend into their surroundings, challenging our perception of form and space. Matisse, like many artists of his time, grappled with the question of representation. Here, he seems less concerned with depicting objects realistically and more interested in exploring the emotional and sensory impact of colour and form. We see a flattening of perspective, reminiscent of Cezanne, where objects are viewed from multiple angles simultaneously. This collapsing of space serves to emphasize the painting's surface, drawing attention to its materiality and the act of painting itself. This 'Still Life' invites us to consider how we construct meaning through visual experience. Its structural approach to colour and form destabilizes conventional ways of seeing, creating a space for new interpretations.