Henri Matisse (1869–1954) was a French painter best known for his bold use of colour and simple, flowing forms. He began studying law, but turned to art in his early twenties, training in Paris under Gustave Moreau. Around 1905 he became a leading figure in Fauvism, a short-lived movement that favoured vivid, non-naturalistic colour. Works such as Woman with a Hat and Le Bonheur de Vivre set the tone for his early reputation.
After the Fauve years, Matisse developed a more refined style, often painting serene interiors and figures. Time spent in Nice and travels to North Africa sharpened his interest in light, pattern and decorative design. He maintained a friendly rivalry with Picasso, and the two pushed each other in new directions for decades.
In the 1940s, following serious illness, Matisse turned to paper cut-outs, “drawing with scissors”, producing works like the Blue Nudes that feel both fresh and monumental. Late in life he also designed the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence, integrating stained glass, murals and textiles. Across painting, printmaking, sculpture and collage, Matisse aimed for clarity and balance, leaving a body of work that remains immediately recognisable and widely loved.