Luxury by Henri Matisse

This pastoral landscape revisits the classical theme of bathers with a radical modernity centered on the purity of lines. The interaction of the bodies with the natural environment evokes a timeless golden age free from realistic contingencies. Bearing the designation of “Luxury”, this magnificent pictorial achievement is signed by the famous Henri Matisse. The apparent simplicity of the layout hides a profound reflection on the balance of masses and the flatness of the canvas.

Three nude female figures occupy an ocre earth shore beside a solid turquoise water. On the left, a woman stands proudly in a three-quarter view, her gaze turned towards the viewer, her body stretching over the entire height. At her feet, a second silhouette is crouched, her back bent, appearing to manipulate a cloth or water. In the background, a third bather moves to the left carrying a bowl or a large seashell filled with colorful elements. The background consists of purple and brown hills under a light blue sky crossed by a large stylized white cloud. The composition is dictated by sharp contours and flat hues.

The artisan’s virtuosity is expressed here in the extreme economy of lines and the harmony of flat colored areas. Succeeding in giving life and movement to these silhouettes with a simple outline bears witness to a complete technical mastery. This refined approach to painting consecrates a completely exceptional know-how.