Henri Matisse painting Bathers by a River, May 13, 1913. Photograph by Alvin Langdon Coburn. Courtesy of George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography and Film, Rochester (source)
Henri Matisse. Bathers by a River. 1909–10, 1913, 1916–17. Oil on canvas, 102 1/2 x 154 3/16" (260 x 392 cm). The Art Institute of Chicago, Charles H. and Mary F. S. Worcester Collection. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York (source)
We viewed the MoMA exhibit, Matisse: Radical Invention, 1913-1917. I learned about the evolution of an artist. The evidence of Matisse becoming a better artist or, more objectively, exceeding what he had previously created was before us through the progression of his paintings, bronze sculptures, bronze reliefs, copper plates, and lithographs.
During the time of World War I and turned down as a soldier, Matisse experimented with his craft. He scraped, shaped, wiped, moved and, in some cases, teased to take his vision where he wanted it to go. He drew from the light and the shadows of his visit to Morocco. He experimented with lines and drew from his rival, Picasso. His paintings became more visually pleasing in the way he used these influences.
I'm no art critic, but I thought it was incredible. I will say that knowing the historical references and background raised the level of my enjoyment.
For a more complete description of the exhibit, go to MoMA.
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