Henri Matisse

About the Artist

Henri Matisse was born in France in 1869 and died in 1954; he was a visual artist widely known as a leading figure of Divisionism. Active in Paris, he was especially known as a central figure of Fauvism in the early 1900s, gaining attention for works using intense color. Matisse's body of work emphasizes simplified forms and decorative patterns, placing importance on visual expression centered on color. Some of his masterpieces were created after 1906, and in his later years, due to declining health, he left important works made through cut-paper collage. He is regarded as a pioneer of modern art who left a profound influence on the art world through his original expression using color and drawing.