Women with the Hat, Henri Matisse, 1905

Résumé du document

This paper analyzes the extent to which the artwork, by virtue of the painting technique used, has an impact on the reaction of its audience, and the artistic context in which it was created. Imagine a woman looking at someone. She is seated, with her face turned towards the audience. She seems peaceful, perhaps curious about the treatment she undergoes with calm and patience, but she seems determined. Is she conscious of the scandal of which she will be the origin? Her young husband is painting her, with ardor. The colors on the canvas are vibrant with greens, yellows and reds. This painting, which caused a scandal at the Salon of 1905, is indeed one of the most famous work of art of Henri Matisse and introduces us to the concept of Fauvism. We examine to what extent one can state that this artwork constitutes a rupture or a revolution.

Extraits

[...] Only the shape is linked to reality. II The artwork's audience : a more than controversed piece of art tin of paint has been thrown to the face of the public Le Matin newspaper In 1905, Matisse exhibits at the Salon d'Automne Femme au chapeau, which causes a scandal. According to Gertrude Stein: ''Visitors bursted out when looking at the canvas, and some where trying to lacerate it''3. Indeed, people are shocked; from the Renaissance, painters conveyed volumes through the process of modeling, i.e. [...]

[...] Given the audience reaction, the answer is clear. Mrs Matisse does not even dare to enter the exhibition. ''Matisse drives crazy . Matisse is worse than wormwood'' can one read on graffiti. ''Donatello among the wild beats!5'' says a critique. This critique is Vauxcelles6, and his term will led painters to use the name of Fauvism to reivendicate their movement. However, even if he was disparaged, Matisse made a name of himself as the leader of this new avant-gardist school - Fauvism. [...]

[...] Actually, Gauguin opened the way with his Sermon or with his Combat avec l'Ange. The color of the landscape is transposed, and has no link with reality. But in Woman with the Hat, Matisse goes even further. The contrasts are strong. Green-red notably, i.e. the maximum contrast. Delacroix, who worked on shadows with an unexpected bright red had slightly announced this movement. With Luxe, Calme et volupté, Matisse explored pointillism (amorced by Signac). Yet, it was just a first step. [...]

[...] Woman with the Hat is indeed, because of the way it was painting, the reaction of the audience, and the artistic context in which it was produced, a real contestation. Following the concept of a revolution, this painting imposes a rupture with the past, and allows the creation of something new. In a word, this analysis showed how important is this work of art to understand art, not only throughout the 20t h century, but also more contemporary movements In french, fauves, hence the term fauvisme 6 H.H. Arnason, History of Modern Art, Fifth Edition Chapter p108. [...]

[...] Woman with the Hat is the foundation stone. In this context, painters will free themselves from the strict exigency of reproduction, which will have strong consequences. Artists are able to enlarge their interest to other phenomena, overcome the limits of the look to focus on other senses. Actually, abstraction may not have existed or at least not that rapidly without the invention of photography! Conclusion In 1904, after Matissse met Signac, who theorized the divisionnist method (neo-impressionist technique, explained in his book D'Eugène Delacroix au néoimpressionnisme), inaugurated by Seurat, the artist painted Luxe, calme et volupté. [...]