Left: Henri Matisse (French, 1869–1954). Nasturtiums with the Painting "Dance" I, 1912. Oil on canvas; 75 1/2 x 45 3/8 in. (191.8 x 115.3 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Bequest of Scofield Thayer, 1982 (1984.433.16). Right: Henri Matisse (French, 1869–1954). Seated Nude Asleep, 1906. Ink, over graphite, on paper; 18 1/4 x 14 7/8 in. (46.5 x 37.7 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection, 1998 (1999.363.39). Both: © 2011 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
«The Teen Advisory Group recently visited the Museum's permanent collection of modern and contemporary art to talk about the work of Henri Matisse. Our guest speaker, Met lecturer Deborah A. Goldberg, PhD, asked, "What do you first think of when you think of Matisse?" There was a great variety of answers.»
I'd like to ask you, the reader, the same question. What do you think of when you first consider Matisse? Color? Dancing women? Fish? Paper cutouts? All of these answers are most certainly correct, but I would like to consider a feeling rather than a particular subject or material: comfort. In Matisse's work, something that pops out at me is that his models always look comfortable, even if they are dancing and don't necessarily have a place to sit. His pieces make me feel that if I were to step into his studio, he would most likely have a chair waiting for me. In fact, Matisse invites the audience to feel comfortable by including a chair in the corner of his piece Nasturtiums with the Painting "Dance" I.
Sitting in the Museum, you can feel that sense of peace and comfort in Matisse's art. The next time you come to the Met, try sitting in front of his works, taking in their beautiful colors, and appreciating the sense of comfort that Matisse has invited you to feel.
Audrey. The Living Room, 2013. Pencil, pen and ink on paper
Where do you sit down and find comfort?
We welcome your response to this question below.