Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse (1869-1954) is one of the best known artists of the 20th century. Matisse who was born and lived in France became a leader of the Fauves (wild beasts), a group of young artists inspired by the Symbolist painter Gustave Moreau. Unlike his Impressionist contemporaries, Matisse developed a style characterized by flat, brilliant colour and fluid line. Unlike his friend and colleague Pablo Picasso who painted mostly from his imagination, Matisse preferred painting real subjects, most often women, interiors and still lifes.