The joy of life painting

            The original title for this sketch was Le Bonheur de vivre and it dates back to 1905-1906 and it is the work of Henry Matisse. This is a large painting that has dimensions of 241*175 cm and it has a height of approximately 6 feet and a width of 8 feet. The sketch demonstrates a lounging attitude of beings with lovely hips, dream as there are some who are playing a flute; there is another being that is holding herself behind her head. On the right side there is another girl who is embracing her lover just like a necklace while at the centre there is the presence of a wild round (Percheron et al 38). The scene of the painting involves independent motifs makeup that is organized in a manner that forms a complete work of art. This is a radical form of art work that uses a new approach that integrates purely expressive bright as well as clear colors and a wide selection of sensual forms. An exploration of vision all through the space is a key aspect in understanding this kind of painting. Through the integration of shifting views, the artist brought about the grand scale which basically is an outcome of the changing positions of people in relation to the figures. Thus, the viewer relates differently to the piece of work and the scenes. This paper therefore will interpret the painting, with a description of the painting and the judgment of the painting basing on the emotions set forth by the piece of work.

            The masses are rhythmically balanced with the green colored trees, the pink bodies and the blue ocean and the immediate use of violet color for compliment. Hence with this form of harmony and marriage, a painting that springs the joy of life is produced. The first impression of this painting is grabbed by the colors which gives life to the painting. The various lines that the painter has used in the painting directs the eyes if the viewer throughout the painting and when blended with the dream colors, they bring about unity as well as consistency mostly to the isolated figures in the painting (Brucker n.p). Color contrast is unifying element as the trees colors are brighter while the colors for the figures are just outlined and this brings the description of their bodies.  Each and every color is used sparingly so as to reduce crowd effect in the painting. Matisse uses a halo of bright so as to emphasize the figures around their bodies thus bring out their curves.

            The painting is a demonstration of the wide range of activities that makes up the joy of life that goes beyond the dancing and singing activities. Thus the painter in this case had each pair representing a form of interconnectedness. For instance, on the left side of the painting, there is a lady who is squatting and she is involved in the task of picking flowers. This is an indication that there is a sense of appreciation for the gifts that nature offers unto them. Matisse uses a red line which is simple and crispy to exalt the natural beauty of the female body. The other partner is represents another song of beauty in simple forms and symbolizes admiration in nature through the beauty of the blade of grass (Percheron et al 38).  The other couple are joined together thus becoming one. Just as in the drawing of the garland flower lady, the artist’s red line highlights the loveliness and sophistication of the body’s beauty. At the centre of the painting which is the true heart of the painting, there are two women who lie alongside each other as their bodies become a shape. Their bodily rest repeats the feeling of the whole painting as there is the flow of energy from them in effect of colors. On the right there is the black haired being who is staring at her body and it is clear that she loves herself. The last couple is positioned at lower right corner symbolize the beauty of unified. Other than two distant beings the two have become one and a shape and in this case a sexual body. Although there are several couples there are still beings that do not interconnect such as the dancers in the circle and the two distant flute players (Percheron et al 38). The painter has thus established a compositional harmony that makes up the rhythm of the motion of the painting. Tied together with color and line, this composition lends to the overall balance and also the beauty of the painting. elements of painting used by Matisse is in supreme quality and this factors together so as to form a masterpiece of visual beauty that leads to the emotional as well as intellectual beauty of the entire painting work. In this painting, there is the use of bold flat lines to demonstrate the bodies of the figures and some other shapes in the piece of work. The lines therefore are well and smoothly drawn so as to outline each and every curve of the various figures as well as objects without necessarily making the piece look like an obscene.

            Looking at the painting, it is quite evident that the beings in this painting are at piece and looking closely can make one feel the extent of joy that these beings are feeling. Designing of the painting has the figures covering the larger portion of the meadow. Each and every figure in the painting has a different activity that they are undertaking and as one views the painting, the eyes are directed to look at the painting as a whole and not just a single place (Lanchner et al 16). The shape that the trees as well as the inanimate objects are given in the piece of work offers a covering of sorts so as to see the true significance of the painting and not just the beings in nudity running around.

            Curves use in this painting is one of the unifying devices that are used for figures as well as the trees. These trees appear to be clocking the being figures in privacy allowing them to enjoy the freedom to celebrate their bodies in any kind of fashion that pleases them.  The beings look happy and calm as the painter demonstrates them as stress free beings and illustrates a time when human beings did not worry about the smaller things but they lived their day in peace and joy. Some of these beings are slender while others appear to be plump but nobody seems to care. However, it is evident that the message behind Matisse’s piece of work is the piece of mortality and also the inner beauty as well as happiness that human beings find (Brucker n.p).

            The painting dose not draws back in the background and reduces in scale. The painting has an expression of pure pleasure, full of life, love and free from fear. Colors used in this piece of work are responsive only to the emotional expressions and the formal necessities of the canvas and does not represent the reality of nature. Matisse constructs landscape which is used as stage in the painting. The trees are planted along the edges of the painting but at a far distance while their upper boughs act like curtains as they are spread apart and this enhances the highlighting of the beings lounged beneath (Stokstad et al 1024).

            Matisse’s capability to capture the emotions of escape, natural beauty and emotions of longing within the line and shape presents an aesthetic value of the painting and presents the beauty that life puts before us. This has therefore enabled even the present viewers to be able to interconnect with the painting as it narrates the story of life beauty entirely. Dancing was the source of his inspiration for his painting. His work therefore is regarded as a support of the early modernism. Matisse’s work has taken a lifeless form in the vibrant sensuality of the art work. Therefore it is evident from the painting that describing it through its actions does not fully serve it justice. A good life is therefore represented in the form of lie around nudes, nudes in motion through nature with other nudes playing flutes and other musical instruments on the sun. Thus a joyous life is a combination of all the activities that is, both dancing, singing and lovemaking.

 

 

 

 

References

Percheron, René, Christian Brouder, and Henri Matisse. Matisse, from Color to Architecture. New York, NY: Abrams, 2004. Print.

Lanchner, Carolyn, and Henri Matisse. Henri Matisse. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 2008. Print.

Stokstad, Marilyn, David Cateforis, and Stephen Addiss. Art History. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2005. Print.

Brucker J. "Henri Matisse Artist Overview and Analysis". The ArtStory org, 2017. Retrieved from:

http://www.theartstory.org/artist-matisse-henri.htm