The Red Studio
Henri Matisse
Description
The Red Studio shows the interior of Matisse's personal art studio, but not in a realistic way. The entire room, floor, walls, furniture, is painted in a deep, bold red, flattening the space and removing any traditional sense of depth. What remains visible are the outlines of furniture and small artworks (paintings, sculptures, ceramics), which stand out in different colors and styles.
Analysis
The Red Studio breaks away from realism and embraces color as emotion and design. Matisse wasn't trying to accurately show what his studio looked like, he wanted to show how it felt to be inside a space of creativity. By using solid color and removing traditional perspective, he created a painting that's more about impression and experience than observation.
Details
- Date:1911
- Medium:Oil on canvas
- Dimensions:181 cm x 219.1 cm
- Location:Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York City