Henri Matisse Sketch

Henri Matisse was famous for his work as a draftsman, sculptor, printmaker and painter. He is especially well known for his use of color. Although classically trained at the Académie Julian in Paris, he quickly abandoned traditional techniques and genres to pioneer a style all his own, marked by quick gestural strokes and fluid contours. Along with fellow painter André Derain, Matisse was the leading proponent of Fauvism, a movement whose name is derived from the French word for "wild beast." Marked by vibrant hues, Fauvist paintings like Matisse's famous 1906 composition Le bonheur de vivre use wild, active brushstrokes and a palette unconstrained by nature. Shop an assortment of Henri Matisse art on 1stDibs.

Henri Matisse created Icarus in 1947. It was printed using a stencil technique and was later included among 20 other pieces in his book Jazz. Shop a selection of Matisse’s pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.

Some of Henri Matisse's most famous paintings include Le Bonheur de Vivre, Blue Nude (Souvenir de Biskra), Woman with a Hat, Music, The Green Stripe and L'Atelier Rouge. Matisse also worked as a draftsman, printmaker and sculptor. Regardless of what medium he was working in, the French artist was a master of color. Although classically trained at the Académie Julian in Paris, he abandoned traditional techniques and genres to pioneer a style all his own, marked by quick gestural strokes and fluid contours. Find an assortment of Henri Matisse art on 1stDibs.

Henri Matisse stopped painting due to health concerns. In 1941, the French artist required surgery for cancer and used a wheelchair afterward. The physical limitations of his disability made it difficult for the artist to continue to produce both paintings and sculptures. However, he adapted by cutting shapes from colored paper for creative new works. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Henri Matisse art from some of the world's top dealers and galleries.

Henri Matisse, throughout his decades-long career, had a number of different impacts upon the art world. However, his seminal works in so-called Fauvism (French for ‘wild beast’) set him apart from the start. With strident use of color and seemingly wild brushwork, works from Matisse’s formative periods are among the most highly sought after by collectors. You’ll find a collection of expertly-vetted Matisse pieces from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.